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."
Most of us Texans used to catch and play with our horned lizards as children. They are harmless, never try to bite and so cute. If you turn them on their backs and rub their little tummys, they'll go to sleep.
They used to be EVERYWHERE- along roads, fields, in your yard. Now it is almost impossible to find one due to man's encroachment upon their habitats and those d*mn fire ants.
"Leiningen, you're up against a monster twenty miles long and two miles wide... forty square miles of agonizing death! You can't stop it!"
“Make me a sergeant in charge of the booze.”
Publicity stunt for the release of Antman on DVD.
Absolutely correct!!! They are held "on top" of the water because of surface tension. Any surfactant will destroy the surface tension (that is why soap makes water work to remove dirt). Use one of the liquid detergents in a squirt bottle if they are close. But If they are farther away, throw a Cascade "pillow" (like you put in the dishwasher) at them it will dissolve with the moisture , the surface tension is gone and the drown.
scary prehistoric face..but he is harmless
Most older Texans know his fierce appearance is all for show just to scare off predators. As children they used to catch and play with the lizards, for he is a gentle little creature who never bites and will go to sleep in your hand if you roll him over and rub his tummy.
This docile little creature is the state reptile of Texas and, as the "horned frog", is the mascot of Texas Christian University.
The Texas horned lizard is the largest of the approximately 14 species of horned lizards in the western United States and Mexico. They can reach a length of 4-6 inches.
The lizards colors camouflage it against predators, and it can also puff itself up and protrude its many small body thorns making it difficult to swallow.
The Texas horned lizard also has the ability to squirt a stream of blood from its eyes for up to 5 feet. Although this blood is harmless, it not only frightens and confuses predators, but has a bad taste when predators such as wolves and coyotes try to eat it.
According to National Geographic, this is one of the most unique creatures on the face of the earth. No other possesses this bizarre defense mechanism.
There has been a serious decline in the number of the lizards in recent years and it is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell them without a special permit. The decline is thought to be the result of overuse of pesticides and invading fire ants which destroy the harvester ants the lizards feed on.
I remember playing with them as a kid in California, we called them Horny Toads.
Coffee.
Give them The Coffee.
It will either kill them, or make them invincible.
I got rid of several thick invasive nests of ants on one small patio (not fire ants though) using two methods. It took two months.
First I sprinkled dry diatomaceous earth everywhere I saw them. Sometimes twice a day. It won’t appear to do anything at first. But they get it all over them and carry it back to the next where it is sharp and harmful to all the ants’ bodies.
The other thing I did was mix laundry borax into dabs of peanut butter, put them in old jar caps all over the patio where the ants were trailing. They loved it. Again, it is something they take home and feed the others and everyone slowly dies.
It took a LOT of work but this was after years (before we moved in) of the homeowners’ association spraying. The ant nests survived all that. But the spraying is toxic to all of us.
I love horned lizards. I remember catching them in the CA desert and even sometimes in the foothills. One we had and kept in a terrarium actually laid dozens of leathery little eggs. They are so cute.
They are adorable!
The main cause are these darn fire ants. Upon their arrival, the red ant declined. That red ant was the horned toad’s main food source.
A Tnt baby! So cute. Thanks.
I meant to say; ‘a tiny baby. So cute.’
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