Red fire ants facing killer virus

[ozymandius]

Source: AP

LUBBOCK, Texas - Imported red fire ants have plagued farmers, ranchers and others for decades. Now the reviled pests are facing a bug of their own.

Researchers have pinpointed a naturally occurring virus that kills the ants, which arrived in the U.S. in the 1930s and now cause $6 billion in damage annually nationwide, including about $1.2 billion in Texas.

-cut-

The virus was found in about 20 percent of fire ant fields, where it appears to cause the slow death of infected colonies.

"Certainly, we are excited about it," said Bob Vander Meer, the leader of the USDA research team in Gainesville, Fla. "I think the virus has great potential. No question about it."

The massive fire ant colonies destroy crops, damage farm and electrical equipment and hasten soil erosion. Humans and livestock are particularly vulnerable to the insect's stinging attacks.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070507/ap_on_bi_ge/farm_scene

[BOSSHOG]

1. We are plaqued with fire ants

here in South Mississippi and while that sounds like great news, I'm wondering what the story will be 25 years from now. Will the virus mutate into something else? I'm rather paranoid about such things. I kill red ants the old fashioned way, pour a shovel full from one mound onto another mound and let em fight it out.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Yea, can't help wondering

if it might be related to the bee colony collapse.

[MrModerate]

5. The one shovel onto another hill . . .

Sounds like a great idea, and as I've just moved to Texas from Maryland, I don't have an experience base to draw on in eradicating the frakkin' things short of piling toxins at their doorstep.

Question -- don't the invaders just get wiped out, since they're so thoroughly outnumbered? Or does the attacked hill reform its hive organization after elimination of the queen and the ruling class and live happily every after?

[Xipe Totec]

10. The Law of Unintended Consequences....

This strategy of dropping a shovel full of one ant mound onto another applies selective pressure on these insects. It is conceivable that it has resulted in the evolution of a new and more dangerous type of ant colony:

There are two types of fire ant colonies:

· single-queen, or monogyne, colonies, and
· multiple-queen, or polygyne, colonies.

Single-queen colonies have only one egg-laying queen, and may contain as many as 100,000 to 240,000 workers. Multiple-queen colonies have many egg-laying queens (usually 20 to 60), with 100,000 to 500,000 workers. Single-queen colonies fight with other fire ant colonies. Because of this antagonistic behavior, colonies are farther apart, resulting in a maximum of 40 to 150 mounds per acre. Multiple-queen colonies generally do not fight with other multiple-queen colonies. Consequently, mounds are closer together, and can reach densities of 200 to 800 mounds per acre. Multiple-queen mounds may also be inconspicuous, often times being clusters of small, flattened excavations, in contrast to the distinct dome-shaped mounds of single-queen colonies. Workers from single-queen colonies vary in size, ranging in length from 1/8 to 1/4 in, and are usually reddish brown to black in color. Workers of multiple-queen colonies are generally smaller (1/8 to 3/16 in), have only a few large workers, and are lighter in color (orangishbrown) than single queen colony workers.

The large colony sizes, and the presence of numerous queens makes multiple-queen colonies more difficult to eliminate than single-queen colonies. Since 1973, multiple-queen colonies have been found in eight of the 11 fire ant infested states. Multiple-queen colonies produce fewer winged, or alate, queens that will start new colonies after a mating flight than single-queen colonies. However, multiple-queen colonies can establish new colonies by budding, where a portion of the queens and workers splits off from a colony.

http://www.ento.okstate.edu/fireants/rifabiology2.PDF

[MrModerate]

11. Thanks for the info (and the link) . . .

Now I have to figure out how 40-150 mounds/acre compares to 200-800 mounds/acre on my micro-lot (.1 acre? -- I'm not sure). Observing the untreated mounds on the green spaces around my neighborhood, I think we're talking monogyne colonies (a term I'm definitely going to drop casually at the next cocktail party I find myself attending).

And since you've raised the issue of intercolony warfare resulting in superants, I'm not so eager to start dumping shovelfuls of one mound on the other (outside of the boyish pleasure of watching them duke it out, which reveals an unpleasant side of my character I'd prefer to keep under wraps).

Maybe I'll just use the shovel to whack the bastards.

[Xipe Totec]

19. Try this trick

Take a flat saucer, pour vegetable oil on it, and place it near the mound. The ants are attracted to the oil and will literally drown in it. Pretty soon, you'll have a saucer with a mound of dead ants in it, and more ants crawling over the dead ones trying to get to the oil.

This doesn't kill the ant mound, but at least it will give you some satisfaction. :evilgrin:

[Occulus]

28. I wonder what the true effect of that is, at that...

Think about it. If you kept doing that over and over, wouldn't you eventually exhaust the mound of workers?

How long might that take? (I suppose it depends on the size of the mound...)

And... aren't fire ants an invasive species in the first place?

[Zodiak]

13. whoops...I was beaten to the punch n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

18. I remember hearing about ant "supercolonies" on Animal Planet

There is a South American ant, from Peru, I think, that has colonized most of Europe. Because the original imports all descended from one queen, they all "smell" like family and so they cooperate rather than compete. The ants are very agressive and have largely wiped out native species.

[kestrel91316]

58. That would be the goddam Argentine ants we have here in SoCal.

We never see anything else anymore. Fortunately these are the tiny guys ("sugar ants") and a little strategic Raid sprayed around every few months seems to keep them at bay. And no, no "natural" remedies have done squat for me.

[NuttyFluffers]

68. love the argentine ants! :D

we gets them in the Bay Area as well. they help keep formosan termites well in check, as well as killing off other annoying pests. and so successfully strong against other scary colony insects -- they might be a reason why fire ants haven't colonized here yet, dunno. and the most wonderful thing about them is that they are so tiny, they can't hurt humans. haven't been stung by an argentine ant yet, unlike those miserable ants i've experienced elsewhere.

kills threats to your property value, keeps away other pests, and they can't hurt me. it's like the perfect ant! :D

[kestrel91316]

78. Yeah, but just wait til they invade a brand new 10 lb bag of cat food, lol.

[BikeWriter]

84. Put it in your freezer.

[Zodiak]

12. Actually, it depends on whether it is a monogyne or polygyne nest

Imported red fire ants have mutated since their arrival in North America, and one of these mutations is the inability to recognize other queens as the enemy. Pouring one shovelful of one nest into another may not work as intended depending on whether you have the normal stock or the polygyne stock of ants.

I recommend turning over their nests at the beginning the the winter. They have no cold survival mechanism other than behavior and the structure of their nest. Disrupt the structure of the nest at the beginning of the winter and the whole colony is dead by Spring.

Unless you have a mild winter.

[MrModerate]

15. Well, this is my first time living in the Houston area . . .

But I'm thinking "mild" probably describes the winter -- at least by Maryland standards (or Romanian standards, where I lived before moving to Maryland).

Also, the ant mounds are in the middle of my lawn, which seems to consist of a mutated plant that's a cross between astroturf and kudzu (I think they call it St. Augustine grass), which is the toughest material this side of kevlar.

I'm not looking forward to digging that up. How deep do the ant nests go, anyway?

[Sweet Freedom]

17. Use an ant killer product called "Over and Out". It works great /nt

[Zodiak]

26. about six feet

for a nest of 100,000+ individuals. Smaller nest are considerably shallower.

[BOSSHOG]

23. I have observed

that after about 24 hours, there is no sign of life on the mound I poured on. Now they could have just moved, which is what I think pestacides do to them. Move them, instead of kill them. I have used "Over and Out" on the back yard and it is quite effective but my front yard has been very habitable to them so I'm fighting that battle now.

Over and Out is a little pricy but it lasts most of the summer season and its worth it if you have alot of human activity in your yard.

[Igel]

40. There's another old fashioned way.

Get a bucket of soapy water and pour on the mound (it works best when they're small).

You can't just slosh the water--you actually have to make sure it goes down their tunnels. And it doesn't always work--but even when it fails, the colony's damaged, and you can always try again.

[Zodiak]

55. That's a good one

Use biodegradable soap, though. In the house, soapy water is as good as a can of Raid.

[Xipe Totec]

64. I've tried it and it works

I use a little Dawn detergent (not too much).

The idea is to reduce the surface tension of water with a surfactant (soap) so that it can overcome the water repellent properties of the waxy coating on the ant's carapace. This causes them to drown.

[ashling]

66. I've had success w/ boiling water

may not kill the varmits, but they sure do get the hell out of Denton

[BikeWriter]

85. If you kill the Queen you've got them.

[Magleetis]

80. I use that too

Only I take a watering can inside and fill it with hot water and Palmolive. It kills the grass but also the ants. I also take an iron rod and wallow out a large hole in the middle of the mound and pour the mixture into the hole. If you want to live dangerously wear flip flops during the procedure.

[damntexdem]

49. Pour vinegar down the mound.

Use cheap stuff -- the ants won't worry about the taste. ;-)

[acmavm]

2. Once on a trip down to Austin I took my shoes off while sitting

around. That wasn't so bad. The stupidity on my part was that I didn't look in my shoes before I slipped 'em back on. What a mess.

And the other thing Texas has that's a menace is flying cockroaches. One of those friggin' things hits you in the head and you sure as hell know it.

Neither of these insects are as annoying as the insects in the bush** family though.

[Cirque du So-What]

4. Seldom do we hear such good ecological news

These ants arrived in the continental US with virtually no natural enemies to keep their numbers in check. It's terrific that a naturally-occurring virus has been found to decimate their colonies. It's definitely preferable to producing chemical compounds to battle the little buggers!



The map shows the extent of their range and their relentless march into unaffected areas. No doubt their expansion is hastened due to global climate change and milder winters farther north.

[Eurobabe]

6. Boo-fucking hoo! I hate those damn things

I lived in Houston in 1983 for one year. During that year, I was attacked over 3 times by f'ing fire ants. Once I left a baby bottle in the back of my car, these things got in through a sealed car and when I picked up the blanket and the bottle, they bit my hand and arm to shreds. My then one year old daughter could not even play in our back yard because of the fire ant mounds. Left that hell-hole post haste!

[Exiled in America]

65. When I was four I had fire ants all over my body :(

...my mom threw me into the tub, threw baking soda all over me and had to hose me down. I guess I had tramped through a mount without realizing it.

The funny thing about it was that they didn't start biting me until they were all up on me... like one of them was like "wait for it...wait for it people! and.....NOW! Go go go go!" lol

A traumatic memory I carry around.

[elocs]

7. I saw a nature show which featured these flies from the rain forest

which used fire ants in their breeding cycle. They would dive bomb the ants and stick their eggs into them. These ants were scared shitless and in a panic. The egg hatches and the pupae grows inside until the ant is killed and its head falls off. These fire ants, being tidy creatures, carry the dead ants outside of the nest where they continue to grow. The question was if the fly colony would survive the colder winter weather in Texas. I think it showed that some did survive. It was amusing to see these fire ants which seem to fear nothing being in such a panic over the flies.

[SayWhatYo]

35. I saw that too...

[nolabels]

70. Ants are not all that bad

I have not studied that much about them but do know they many mortal enemies. One of their benefits is they keep the termites in check during swarming season. Ecologically they probably have lots of things they promote, especially out dry arid places where we live. We also have a lot of these kind of guys all over the place too


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antlion

[whoneedstickets]

8. I wonder if they have checked the Bees for this virus?

Or variants? The social insects--bees and ants--aren't that far apart genetically.

[jody]

9. I hope the virus doesn't affect Republicans.

:rofl:

[snooper2]

14. This is what I use...

Just don't take a wiff of it... :)

[MrModerate]

16. Hell, the package alone should send the bastards running! n/t

[AlCzervik]

20. oh yeah, when i lived in Spring Texas i used that, it smells like a dead something

i always wore a bandana under my nose and around my mouth, that stuff works really well.

[prole_for_peace]

52. that is some rotten smelling stuff but it sure does work.

i have to hold my breath when i use it. the first time i smelled it i thought i would throw up.

[ekelly]

67. That is what we use as well

Smells like shit, but works wonders!

[The2ndWheel]

21. We do more damage

We destroy land by planting crops, using farm and electrical equipment, and hasten soil erosion. We also pollute the air, water, and food. We also actively destroy any species that is in the way of our expansion, humans and livestock being particularly vulnerable.

All this means is more for us to destroy, because we don't get exicted and orgasmic about viruses that might hit us.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The2ndWheel]

24. Actually no

Probably a good thing too.

"The agency is now seeking commercial partners to develop the virus into a pesticide to control fire ants."

The funny thing is that fascism won't control anything. It'll just make the problem bigger once we're able to artificially control the ants. We always have to "improve" our pesticides, because of that damn thing called evolution. We'll attempt to inject a virus into a living thing for our benefit, it won't really work, and we'll have to do it all over again.

If only we could stop evolution, and poison the planet without having to suffer the consequences.

[Occulus]

30. .

:rofl:

You do know this is an imported species, right? They were never supposed to be up this far.

[The2ndWheel]

33. And controlling them with the virus will do what?

Outside of allowing it to remain a pest, then having to create another pesticide, probably nothing.

You're right though, I hope we don't stop with the ants. They're not productive anyway. Any life that doesn't directly benefit us, we have to eradicate them. I know the article said we don't want to do that, but we do. What we need to do is develop pesticides that attack specific genotypes. Basically take what the PNAC clique came up with in Rebuilding America's Defenses, and do that to anything on the planet that cannot be part of the productive global engine. We could almost, finally, put a stop to evolution. I'm almost excited about it.

[Occulus]

46. That's one of the craziest posts I've ever read.

Batshit insanity, word for word.

[SayWhatYo]

36. Do you consider exterminators to be fascists?

The connections you're trying to make here are extremely hilarious. Isn't there enough fucked-up-ness right now, that there isn't a need to make such odd connections?

[The2ndWheel]

39. No, they're exterminators

Not the best job, but everyone has to support their family I guess.

"Isn't there enough fucked-up-ness right now"

Not only is there not enough, but there will be more. That is our solution to every problem, to make things more fucked up. The more we attempt to control this and that, the more we end up having to control this and that. We create agriculture, then all of a sudden we have pests, which are relly just species that are trying to do what we're doing, which is benefit from agriculture. So we come up with pesticides, which work at first, then wear down as the pest evolves. In the gap of time between that, we either posion the food we're protecting, or allow another species to thrive and become a pest. That cycle just continues like that until 12:30pm May 7th, 2007. It'll be that way May 8th, 9th, and May 27th, 2038.

The best part is that no matter what we do, it'll just create more problems. We could let the fire ants go crazy, and we'll have problems. We could exterminate every fire ant from the face of the planet, and we'll have problems.

So you're right, I'm done with the odd connections. Control and manipulate the virus so that we'll end up with more problems, or don't, and let the ants eat us.

Uggg...again, you're right. I'm thinking too much, or not thinking too much, and sounding like a nutjob. Screw it, just kill the ants. It's easiest.

[nolabels]

71. The Aardvark

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark

[silverojo]

72. We've got a hella ant-festation in our yard

I jokingly said to someone recently, "I wonder if the zoo has anteaters for rent." I'll have to add the aardvark to my want list. :rofl:

[nolabels]

77. Are you sure you're not in Georgia ?

http://www.dca.state.ga.us/CountySnapshotsNet/countysnapshot.aspx?cicoid=1142142

[Frank Cannon]

38. Fascism? Against red fire ants?

I lived in Texas for several years. I can tell you that they're fascistic enough all on their own.

[The2ndWheel]

42. I know, that was dumb, I apologize

If they could, the ants would do the same to us. That's why I have to stop before I talk. Why am I arguing for the ants? They'll chew me up while I slept and wouldn't give a second thought. What the hell.

This is what happens when you have time to kill at work.

Still, technically it is the merging of government and corporate power to achieve a goal. Corporatism, fascism, whatever. The ants also don't have a vote. Then again neither would I if they came after me. So as with everything else, might makes right. Or it doesn't, I honestly don't know or care. Kill them, don't kill them...ehhh.

Whoever has to deal with them gets to do whatever the hell it is they want to. Now I've got it.

[Frank Cannon]

43. That's all right. You really have to experience them first hand...

to really "appreciate" them. Like when you're hiking on a beautiful summer's morning and you step on a hill.

There are some native species of fire ants in the South that are bad, but not quite so vicious. But these imported red ones are something else.

[kestrel91316]

59. The fire ants are an imported, invasive, nonnative species.

I hope they ALL die of this virus. The sooner the better. There are plenty of native American ant species that belong here and are a vital part of native ecosystems. Give us back our ant diversity.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

25. I have hear the tales...

Of growing up and being tormented by bullies that throw their victims onto Fire Ant mounds.

I would imagine that would change one's outlook on them.

[Zorra]

27. Hope someone markets this virus for use as a natural pesticide. n/t

[kestrel91316]

60. Better yet, just let it spread naturally, for FREE.

[enlightenment]

29. A conundrum, for sure.

Years ago, while stationed at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS, a member of my squadron died as a result of fire ant bites. The bites themselves didn't kill her, rather it was a perfect storm of circumstances. She was bitten many, many times around the neck and shoulders (after an early morning jog she picked up her towel from the ground and slung it around her neck. It was still too dark to see that it was covered with ants); she was apparently hyper-sensitive; and no one saw her fall. She died of anaphylactic shock.

So, on the one hand - good. Nasty buggers. On the other hand; the ramifications of such a virus. What does it mean to other species? What sort of damage can humans do with it?

[slackmaster]

31. Lucky for me, California declared itself an ant-free state 10 years ago

We never get them here.

[CountAllVotes]

32. that is not true

I see plenty of them.

[slackmaster]

45. If you aren't turning them in to police, you are part of the problem

[xxqqqzme]

48. Palm Springs/Palm Desert has fire ants. I've been bitten

by them while on the desert.

[kestrel91316]

61. They got rid of them?? I missed that part, lol. Maybe I had them mixed up

with the Africanized honeybees........

Now we just need a virus to kill the damned Argentime ants......

[Bridget Burke]

75. California has a "Red Imported Fire Ant Program"....

Here are some images from the site. www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/rifa/html/english/mediaroom/Resources.html

Note: The correct name for those "stings" shown on a human leg is actually "pustules." They last for a while.

In the larger ecological picture, I'm concerned about the ramifications of this viral attack.

As a Texan, I say "Go, Virus, Go!"

[THUNDER HANDS]

34. ...and I for one welcome our new ant virus overlords

[flamin lib]

37. Ants!

This little fellow is new to the Dallas/Ft Worth area. Just got here from Mexico 'bout two years ago. Migrating north with the rising temperature.

Here's the ants feeding on the sugar water from my hummingbird feeder.


I try to keep them both under control by mixing boric acid with sweets like jelly to make a bait. It's environmentally friendly, won't hurt pets and works for just about all household pests like roaches and ants.

Just mix enough boric acid (available at your pharmacy) to make a paste thick enough to roll into a ball and leave it under the fridge, dish washer and in the corners of cabinets. Smear it on plants near mounds or just randomly around the yard. Replace it when it rains.

[hedgehog]

41. For years I've been used to small black ants coming into the house

for about 2 weeks every spring. I just make sure to keep the counters free of crumbs, they come in , look around , and leave. The last two or three springs, no ants. This is up north along Lake Ontario. I have no idea where they went. I sort of miss them because it was an oddity of living around here.

On the other hand, I just looked out the window to see some wasps building a nest in the pipe across the top of the chain link fensce on the dogs' run. Those fellows wuill have to go!

[sui generis]

44. wasps are good!

seriously - most non-yellow varieties are completely unaggressive and eat mosquito larvae. They only time they sting is if you actually attack them aggressively, and wasp venom isn't much worse than ant venom. In fact bee allergy doesn't react to wasp venom.

Plus, at the end of the season, you can take their nest down and they won't come back.

[hedgehog]

47. I'm concerned mostly that they will sting the dogs. If they are non-aggresive,

I'd be more than willing to let them stay. I can use all the mosquito eaters I can get! Any idea where I can see some pictures to ID the good guys?

[sui generis]

53. google wasps - but you have a point

your dogs will probably snap at them which will lead to problems. Doggies aren't as discriminating as we are! If the nest is up high, no worries, but if it's lower than six feet I'd agree with you to remove it in season. Your doggies come first.

Generally though, if the wasps are mostly brown they're harmless. Yellow jackets or mostly yellow wasps can be aggressive, but brown wasps, most paper wasps and mud daubers, and even hornets believe it or not are pretty tame. My SO did some homework and had a "pet" nest out back one season. Funniest thing was watching him carefully carry wasps out of the pool cabana on a broom and escort them back to their nest.

[conscious evolution]

62. Let the dogs get stung once

They will never mess with a bee again.

Seen it work with both cats and dogs.

[nolabels]

76. We once had a dog that considered them a threat too.

He got stung once or twice as a pup so he often attacked most flying insects that got near.

[FlaGranny]

74. Hornets? Tame?

Have you ever had a hornet encounter? When I was a kid, walking down the road, minding my own business, I got dive bombed repeatedly by a hornet. It chased me for about 1/4 mile. Another one got my mother when she opened a window. It flew right in and stung her on the nose. Hornets are big and they are mean.

[CatholicEdHead]

57. No, but their stings still hurt

/was stung by wasps on inside of both ankles at the same time
//felt like hot needles for the next 6-8hrs going in and out
///ouch

[harpboy_ak]

69. wrong! most bee allergy sufferers can be KILLED by wasps

wasp venom isn't much worse than ant venom. In fact bee allergy doesn't react to wasp venom.

Sorry, you're (dead) wrong! Most wasps would kill me, and many bees.

When I worked on the Alaska pipeline we had large (3-4 inch) black wasps with a 1/2 inch stinger hanging around our foundation drilling rigs, apparently attracted by some of the lubricants. One guy on our spread got stung and nearly died --- they had to medivac him to Fairbanks by chopper.

The next time I could get into Fairbanks, I got a prescription for an EpiPen and kept it with me all the time, and made sure that my fellow workers knew what it was and what it was for. I still carry one on hikes, camping trips, and bike tours.

[BrightKnight]

82. An EpiPen is a good idea. A Sawyer Extractor might also help. - n/t

[Frank Cannon]

73. Wasp venom isn't much worse than ant venom?

Wish you could have been there the day when a wasp flew in the vent of my car and stung me on the back of my hand. By midnight that night, my hand swelled so much, it looked like a comically inflated surgical glove, and my entire arm up to my shoulder felt like it was being crushed in a vice. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life.

Oh, plus I developed a case of cellulitis in that hand that also took weeks to resolve.

Fuck wasps. I relish the opportunity to kill any one I see, and I laugh while doing it.

[friendly_iconoclast]

50. A variation on igils remedy in post #40

Worked a treat in my backyard in Florida.

Use dish detergent (biodegradable and no triclosan please). Drizzle a teaspoon or so
on top of the mound. Then use the high-pressure setting on a garden hose
to drive it deep into the mound. Twenty or thirty seconds will do after a little practice. This overwhelms the ants' "storm drainage system",
and will destroy the colony or knock it waay back.

Remember, you are not watering the lawn, this is pest control!

[bamacrat]

51. Yeah, fire ants suck.

[Zynx]

54. I support this act of biological warfare.

[superconnected]

56. Scary. Even though people don't like fire ants, it's another species

being attacked by virus like the honey bee.

I take it we're going to see a lot more of these?

[Selatius]

63. I have never really found a solution to killing them here in Mississippi

They keep coming back. Sometimes we pour gas on them and set the mound on fire. We use poisons. On Fourth of July parties, we insert firecrackers into them, and we insert small moon travelers upside down into them so that when they launch they go into the mound and blow up. We half heartedly hope a moon traveler hits the queen's chamber and kills it.

[demo dutch]

79. I'm sure they're good for something in nature, so I hope that they won't start

introducing the virus. It will probably do more harm!

[Megahurtz]

81. >"Certainly, we are excited about it,"

said Bob Vander Meer, the leader of the USDA research team in Gainesville, Fla.
"I think the virus has great potential. No question about it."<
What an evil and scary statement coming from them. :scared:

[NickB79]

83. Sounds like the myxomatosis virus used to wipe out rabbits in Australia

In the 1950's they introduced a highly lethal virus into Australia to wipe out the feral rabbits that were destroying the native ecosystems. It worked incredibly well, wiping out 99% of all the rabbits on the continent.

The only problem was the resistant 1%....

Today there are again millions upon millions of rabbits in Australia. That's the problem with biological control agents, in a large enough population there's bound to be survivors that can carry on the species.