Crazy Ant Invasion

A new kind of "crazy ant" is invading the United States and replacing fire ants. Crazy ants are the first insects known that can detoxify the venom of another insect, which is why they are taking over so fast.

Fire ants use their powerful and sometimes fatal (to other ants) venom to defend themselves and their food. When crazy ants get this venom on them, they produce a formic acid from their abdomen that detoxifies the venom, making it harmless. If nothing gets in the crazy ants way, they may replace fire ants altogether. Research has shown that where there is a high population of crazy ants, the populations of insects and spiders have decreased. If this continues, it is predicted that crazy ants will have a huge effect on the regions ecosystems. The effect crazy ants will have is unknown, but the major issue would be reducing food sources for birds, reptiles, and other animals that eat insects.

Scientists at the Breckinridge Field Laboratory in Austin did an experiment to measure the effectiveness of the formic acid that crazy ants produce. Of the ants that got venom on them and could not produce the acid, about have died. In the control group, the ants that were stabbed but could produce the acid, 98% of the ants lived.

One positive thing (for us) about these new crazy ants is that they spread very slowly (about 600 feet per year) and are located mostly in the south. They are spread easily by transporting potted plants or vehicles with crazy ants inside. Hopefully this means it will take them a while to reach Minnesota and we won't really have to deal with them!

Body parts of a crazy ant

Body parts of a fire ant

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2014/02/13/crazy_ants_dominate_fire_ants_by_neutralizing_their_venom.html

NOS Themes: 

• Science is based on evidence (Research and experiments done to measure effectiveness of formic acids)
• Role of skepticism (Scientists unsure what effect crazy ants will have on surrounding ecosystems)
• Conflicts within the scientific community (crazy ants are taking over fire ants and disrupting the food web)