Why fire ants are dangerous during floods

Just recently, a massive hurricane, Harvey, was raging over Texas, causing massive destruction and floods. Scientists warn everyone who has to deal with the water element, that along with it the danger can be posed by red fire ants. In general, in addition to “water”, one will also have to deal with “fire”. What can tiny creatures annoy people with?

Ant Ark

To some extent, fire ants can be called looters. This species developed in the floodplains of South American rivers, but since then it has almost invaded the entire southern part of the country by storm. The fact is that the ants have learned to move around the water and use floods to expand their habitat. That is why they often come to new places and settle there after natural disasters.

How do they do it? When heavy rains flood the colony, the ants join with their jaws and sticky pads on their feet. It takes them about a minute and a half to do this. Each group can contain thousands or even hundreds of thousands of ants. In this case, the ants periodically change their position, so that almost no insect remains under water long enough to drown. And the most valuable members of the group, such as the queen and newborns, are pushed to the top and center, where they are safe. If one part of the new mobile colony is damaged, the other ants will move to “repair” the structure. These living rafts can stay afloat for several days or until they reach a tree or land.

Allergies, hallucinations and hundreds of bites

What is the danger of such "ant arks"? The fact is that the red fire ants are very poisonous and have one of the most painful bites in the world. Ordinary ants bite the enemy, and then they launch acid into the wound. Fire ants are much worse: they bite the enemy, hold on to their jaws and inject a poisonous “cocktail” containing 46 different ingredients, including poisons that sometimes affect the nervous system.

In addition, they are more belligerent than many other social insects. If you disturb the hive, a swarm of bees will not run into you: usually most colonies have a few dedicated warrior defenders. But if the fire ants feel the danger, they will all attack. Moreover, every hundredth person from an excess of ant poison can earn allergies and even hallucinations.

The best way to deal with these floating threats is to learn to recognize and avoid them. Like a person who is drowning, they are looking for everything to catch on. And if they choose that very drowning person, then in addition to all their problems, he will also receive hundreds of poisonous bites.

Another way is detergents. Soapy water prevents ants from trapping air bubbles around their bodies, which means they can stay on the surface. During natural disasters, experts advise equipping special detachments of volunteers who would fight these creatures, at first glance so harmless.