[WATCH] Acid Spewing Ants in Texas: Will This “Killer” Fungus Stop Them?
Reading about these acid-spewing invaders in Texas sounds like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic novel. We can't but wonder if they'll be making their way here to East Texas.
We are hoping for the best, but it's hard to know.
Honestly the more we read about this invasive species native to South America that has made its way to the Lone Star State near San Antonio and in the Houston, Texas area, the more horrified we become.
Sure they have an official name, but they're usually referred to as "crazy ants." And that's a perfect name for them given that they're known for, ya know, SPEWING ACID OMG. But the name is primarily based on their strange, erratic movement.
Even worse? They've actually blinded small woodland creatures with the acid they shoot at them. Self-defense or not, you have to admit that's pretty horrifying.
KHOU11 reports that "according to Texas Monthly, in some parts of the state they have wiped out local insects, killed birds and even blinded small animals by spewing acid."
They're also apparently quite drawn to electrical equipment and tend to chew through wires. How utterly bizarre. (See, they DO sound like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic novel.)
So, what can be done to take on these little acid-spewing weirdos that are blinding our woodland creatures and freaking us all the heck out?
Thankfully, researchers at UT Austin have said there's a "naturally occurring fungal pathogen [that] can wipe out entire colonies of crazy ants. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," KHOU11 reports.
The researchers and scientists found that the crazy ants they infected with this fungal pathogen were released back into a larger crazy ant population in a Texas state park and within a couple of years, they were gone.
Even better? It appears other creatures--including insects, as well as other wildlife, remained healthy. And they do seem to have one virtue from a human POV: they are able to nullify fire ant venom. But I'm not sure if we'd wanna exchange venom for acid.
Lovely thought, eh? ;)
If you're brave and want to watch them in action, take a look:
If we're lucky, that fungal pathogen of which they speak will wipe out these little crazy ant intruders before they make it to East Texas.
And if you'll remember, several months ago we told you about ANOTHER horrifying acid-spewing species found in Texas--if you're brave, take a look.
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