One of the most incredible things about Nature must be how everything is so balanced. The interdependence and co-existence of species, for one. Of course, it’s a different story altogether that humans have singularly ruined that balance. But, now and then, comes a story to remind us that Nature will win eventually.
So, these crazy ants (really. that’s their name!), spreading in the southeastern parts of the U.S., have been living up to their name very well for the last 20 years. These ants, whose full name is tawny crazy ant, are an invasive species in Texas, and unimaginably destructive. According to a news report, when these crazy ants invade any new region in Texas, they “wipe out local insects and lizards, drive away birds, and even blind baby rabbits by spewing acid in their eyes”. Native to South America, they moved up north through ships. Ants are known for their “orderly marches”, but this one got its name because there are no orderly marches here, only “erratic, jarring movements”. In addition to ecosystems, they take over electrical systems, “causing shorts in breaker boxes, AC units and sewage pumps”.
And, looks like their days may be numbered. In a recent study, scientists discovered a naturally occurring fungus-like pathogen that can be used to reverse the rampant spread of these ants. The “fungus had already driven pockets of the invaders to extinction, and would soon be tested at environmentally-sensitive sites to protect endangered species”.
Though the pathogen’s origins aren’t clear, the study has shown that over the last eight years, “every population harboring the pathogen declined, and 60 percent of the populations went completely extinct”.
This is good news in two ways because “first, a pathogen of natural origin was selectively targeting the invasive species, limiting their ability to steamroll local ecosystems. Second, scientists can accelerate the spread of the pathogen to kill the crazy ants quicker”. But the reality is also that the process is “labor intensive, not something that could eradicate the species overnight”.
Picture Credit : Google
