Lindaland
  Gaia's Garden
  Fire ants in America

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone! next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Fire ants in America
Kim Rogers
Knowflake

Posts: 302
From: Watertown MN USA
Registered: Apr 2006

posted August 03, 2006 03:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kim Rogers     Edit/Delete Message
I saw a National Geographic show where a man discovered the natural enemy of fire ants.

He went to South America, and found that there is a tiny fly that can kill them, and disrupt the daily activities of the ants.

The flies live for about 4 days; in that time they fly around the ants. The ants panic sending off a hormone that causes the flies to go into a mating frenzy. The female has the ability to pierce the armour of the ant as she lays a single larva into the back of the ant. The larva then begins to feed on the host causing a slow death.

When an ant is pierced the other ants stop what they're doing to comfort the injured comrades. They also collect the bodies of the dead ants & pile them outside the entrance.

When the new fly emerges, and its wings dry, the process is started all over again.

In the southern states of America fire ants have overtaken the land. They are aggressive, and have devistated the eco system by killing everything in their path. They have even evolved into having huge labyrinths that now contain multiple queens.

If all the states affected by the ant population were to begin cultivating the flies than there is a chance of keeping the ants in a more harmonious balance.

I have lived in Texas, and those things are vicious. It's a shame that no one, in 70 years, has thought to look for the natural enemy of the fire ant.

channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/popup/200607291900.html - 26k

------------------
"When the student is ready the teacher will appear"

IP: Logged

Randall
Webmaster

Posts: 23743
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted August 04, 2006 01:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message
Interesting.

------------------
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

IP: Logged

Randall
Webmaster

Posts: 23743
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted August 10, 2006 03:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message
I do feel a little sad for the ants.

------------------
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

IP: Logged

Kim Rogers
Knowflake

Posts: 302
From: Watertown MN USA
Registered: Apr 2006

posted August 13, 2006 06:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kim Rogers     Edit/Delete Message
Randall,

You softy.

Have you ever been bitten &/or stung by them? They can leave a pustual that lasts for 1-2 weeks.

I do have to wonder what the reprocussions of introducing the flies to the country would be. I figure that whatever it is that it can't be as bad as the ants.

------------------
"When the student is ready the teacher will appear"

IP: Logged

hippichick
Knowflake

Posts: 581
From: The Ether
Registered: Jan 2006

posted September 13, 2006 05:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for hippichick     Edit/Delete Message
Ltl bast$@$s!!!! They are not indigenous to Texas, I forget the story, but they came over on a boat or crawled up from South America!

I live in San Antonio. During our horrible drought of the summer, they were scarce and if I remember correctly those flies almost became extinct due to a drought in the year of the filming of that program!Anyway the ants are not so bad when it is very dry, but due to our blessed recent rains, they are everywhere. I was out pruning my roses just yesterday and did not have to look down to know what was piercing my skin!

They have made the horney toad lizard all but extinct, animals are plagued by their venmous attacks, even killed. Alot of people are allergic to them, the list of negatives goes on and on.

Still, they are creatures of the earth. Their extream proliferation, I believe is just another example of how the earth is crying out from human destruction!

IP: Logged

Harpyr
Moderator

Posts: 2162
From: land of the midnight sun
Registered: Dec 2002

posted September 13, 2006 11:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Harpyr     Edit/Delete Message
I also agree that infestations like these are symtomatic of extreme environmental degradation.

IP: Logged

All times are Eastern Standard Time

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | Linda-Goodman.com

Copyright © 2005

Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a