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Fire ants escaping South Carolina floods by forming 'islands'
upi ^ | Oct. 6, 2015 | Ben Hooper

Posted on 10/07/2015 7:09:03 AM PDT by JoeProBono

GREENVILLE, S.C., - South Carolina ants seeking to stay afloat amid flooding in the state are creating their own refuge by forming into "islands of ants."

A photojournalist for WHNS-TV spotted what appeared to be mud floating in Greenville County flood waters Sunday, but he soon discovered the clump was actually an "island of ants."

A similar video was captured by a photographer for WSAV-TV.

Residents across the region reported seeing similar ant islands floating in flooded areas.

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology said in a 2013 study that fire ants use their jaws, small claws and adhesive pads on their legs to form into floating structures.

The researchers said the "ant rafts" are strong enough to withstand waves and the structures are able to break apart and relink in different formations.

"Imagine thousands of people linking their arms together, but everyone has six arms instead of two, and all of their limbs have tiny hooks and adhesive pads on them,"said David Hu, professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. "That's why fire ants can do such dynamic restructuring."


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Science
KEYWORDS: fireants; southcarolina
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To: JoeProBono

I’ve seen this for a couple of days and have been trying to figure out if all are actually alive. A good portion seem to be below the surface in the second photo. Can they actually rotate/migrate to the top in time not to drown, or have some been sacrificed to form a “hull”?


21 posted on 10/07/2015 7:28:52 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: JoeProBono

Thanks. Your version makes more sense.


22 posted on 10/07/2015 7:29:08 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: JoeProBono

More fearsome than the ant collective...the liberals evil oozes over the United States.

23 posted on 10/07/2015 7:29:37 AM PDT by Autonomous User (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.)
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To: Darksheare


24 posted on 10/07/2015 7:30:22 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: Westbrook

Grrr...you beat me to it.

A flame thrower would be most efficient in this case.


25 posted on 10/07/2015 7:34:30 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Vigilanteman

I’ve heard that


26 posted on 10/07/2015 7:36:09 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: treetopsandroofs

Fire Ant Secret: How They Create Life-Saving Rafts in Floods http://www.livescience.com/13867-raft-fire-ants-buoyancy-flood-water-repellant-floatation.html


27 posted on 10/07/2015 7:37:00 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: PistolPaknMama

LOL funny


28 posted on 10/07/2015 7:38:43 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: JoeProBono

We see lots of those floating fire ant mounds, when it’s flooding down in Texas (and all of the telephone lines are down).

As if the flooding alone wasn’t dangerous enough.


29 posted on 10/07/2015 7:39:03 AM PDT by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
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To: Vigilanteman

That’s a good description of what grits do in people.


30 posted on 10/07/2015 7:43:11 AM PDT by captain_dave
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To: JoeProBono

“An individual ant’s hard outer covering, called a cuticle, is hydrophobic, or water-repelling. The cuticle’s rough surface allows an ant to trap air against its body when submerged; forming what is called a plastron layer. A massive group of ants, all linked together, has an enhanced water-repellent ability such that the whole group can float while preventing water from penetrating the raft, Mlot said.”

Thanks!


31 posted on 10/07/2015 7:43:44 AM PDT by treetopsandroofs (Had FDR been GOP, there would have been no World Wars, just "The Great War" and "Roosevelt's Wars".)
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To: JoeProBono

(Them!) One of my favorite movies. Waiting for it to come out on Blu-ray.


32 posted on 10/07/2015 7:46:17 AM PDT by PLMerite (The Revolution...will not be kind.)
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To: Autonomous User


33 posted on 10/07/2015 7:48:30 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: JoeProBono

send em to mecca.......


34 posted on 10/07/2015 7:49:23 AM PDT by rrrod (Jhttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3343827/reply?c=1ust an old guy with a gun in his pocket.)
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To: JoeProBono; All
Fire ants are such destructive little sobs.

They've all but eliminated our precious little horned lizard (the state reptile of Texas) by attacking/driving away harvester ants, the food source of the horned lizard.

I am active in preventing destruction of our native Texas animals. (see my profile for the Tx animals in danger, what causes it and what we can do to help)

35 posted on 10/07/2015 7:49:56 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: PLMerite


36 posted on 10/07/2015 7:50:58 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: JoeProBono

37 posted on 10/07/2015 7:51:38 AM PDT by Textide (Lord, grant that I may always be right, for thou knowest I am hard to turn. ~ Scotch-Irish prayer)
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To: PistolPaknMama

For real... Are they born with a raft gene? Do they communicate the idea to one another?


38 posted on 10/07/2015 7:56:01 AM PDT by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democrat.)
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To: jasbd1985

Uncooked Grits.


39 posted on 10/07/2015 7:56:40 AM PDT by WhirlwindAttack ( The gun doesn't care how you feel about it)
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To: onedoug

ping


40 posted on 10/07/2015 8:00:50 AM PDT by windcliff
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