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Invasive Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants, Researchers Find

By Guest PostMay 18, 2013Nature, Science300 pound gorilla, ant species, argentine ant, arthropod species, austin, brackenridge field laboratory, college, crazy ants, ecologically dominant, ecosystem, ed lebrun, florida, Houston, invasive crazy ants, natural control, natural sciences, new orleans, northern argentina, nylanderia fulva, omnivorous, rasberry crazy ants, southern brazil, southern hemisphere, southern louisiana, southern mississippi, tawny crazy ants, united states, university of texas, videos on youtube

AUSTIN, Texas — Invasive “crazy ants” are displacing fire ants in areas across the southeastern United States, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. It’s the latest in a history of ant invasions from the southern hemisphere and may prove to have dramatic effects on the ecosystem of the region.

The “ecologically dominant” crazy ants are reducing diversity and abundance across a range of ant and arthropod species — but their spread can be limited if people are careful not to transport them inadvertently, according to Ed LeBrun, a research associate with the Texas invasive species research program at the Brackenridge Field Laboratory in the College of Natural Sciences (more…)

Researchers Find Asian Needle Ants Displacing Other Aggressive Invaders

By Guest PostFebruary 12, 2013Natureaggressive, alabama, argentine ant, asian needle ant, changing ecosystems, ecosystem processes, eleanor spicer rice, invasive ant species, jonathan shik, jules silverman, linepithema humile, new york city, north Carolina, oregon, pachycondyla chinensis, population boom, queens, state university, supercolonies, toxic baits, united states, urban environments, venomous sting, workers

Researchers from North Carolina State University have found that one of the most aggressive invasive ant species in the United States – the Argentine ant – appears to have met its match in the Asian needle ant. Specifically, the researchers have found that the Asian needle ant is successfully displacing Argentine ants in an urban environment, indicating that the Asian needle ant – with its venomous sting – may be the next invasive species to see a population boom.

In the world of invasive species, the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is a success story. Its aggressive, territorial behavior and ability to create huge “supercolonies” – consisting of thousands of queens and millions of workers – have enabled the Argentine ant to spread across the United States, displacing native species and changing ecosystems to suit its needs. No other ant species had been seen successfully pushing back – until now. (more…)

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Invasive Crazy Ants Are Displacing Fire Ants, Researchers Find

Researchers Find Asian Needle Ants Displacing Other Aggressive Invaders