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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: Cincinatus

Pour molten metal down the hill.

61 posted on 10/07/2015 9:01:39 AM PDT by bgill ( CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: patriot08

I loved the horny toads as we called them when I was a kid. Haven’t seen one in years. There is no shortage of the other kind of lizard, they are all over my front and back porches. The dogs used to hunt them but they got bored with it I guess, and the lizards have taken over. What do these lizards eat?. Spiders I hope!


62 posted on 10/07/2015 9:01:51 AM PDT by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
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To: Darksheare


63 posted on 10/07/2015 9:01:58 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: Ditter

I haven’t seen one in 30 years. Cute little fellows. I tied strings around them and led them around like puppies when I was little. Grandma found one years later with the string still attached.


64 posted on 10/07/2015 9:03:32 AM PDT by bgill ( CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: Yaelle

Borax, peanut butter and syrup.

65 posted on 10/07/2015 9:05:21 AM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: bgill
My brother and I built little enclosures for them and put tiny trees in there for them. So long ago I have trouble remembering it all but we never hurt them. Turned them loose to catch another day.
66 posted on 10/07/2015 9:07:29 AM PDT by Ditter (God Bless Texas!)
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To: ThePatriotsFlag
But If they are farther away, throw a Cascade "pillow"...

OMG - our salvation may be armies of 8-year-olds with boxes of Cascade under their arms. Check that - shove over, kid, Unca Bill wants to play too...

67 posted on 10/07/2015 9:10:40 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: bgill
Cute little fellows. I tied strings around them and led them around like puppies when I was little.

________________________

We used to do that, too. LOL But we never hurt one.

Remember how they could just run like the devil, but we could always catch them? lol

68 posted on 10/07/2015 9:12:13 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: bgill
Cute little fellows. I tied strings around them and led them around like puppies when I was little.

________________________

We used to do that, too. LOL But we never hurt one.

Remember how they could just run like the devil, but we could always catch them? lol

69 posted on 10/07/2015 9:12:14 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: bgill
Cute little fellows. I tied strings around them and led them around like puppies when I was little.

________________________

We used to do that, too. LOL But we never hurt one.

Remember how they could just run like the devil, but we could always catch them? lol

70 posted on 10/07/2015 9:12:14 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: bgill
Cute little fellows. I tied strings around them and led them around like puppies when I was little.

________________________

We used to do that, too. LOL But we never hurt one.

Remember how they could just run like the devil, but we could always catch them? lol

71 posted on 10/07/2015 9:12:18 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: Ditter
I loved them too.

The other lizards eat spiders, flys, etc.

But you can't catch them and play with them. You must mean Geckos. Now THEY'RE everywhere. Can't stand them. They look nasty.

I like anoles or chameleons (SO CUTE. love to see them do that amazing 'change their color bi't lol))..but they are too quick to catch, and they'll try to bite you. lol

72 posted on 10/07/2015 9:23:14 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: Vigilanteman

**** “feed them grits” ****

I grind dent corn and feed it to Cutter Ants and it works very well. Cutter ants farm and eat Fungus, corn is or has a natural fungicide and destroys their fungus farm.

Fire ants have a different diet.


73 posted on 10/07/2015 9:26:37 AM PDT by TexasTransplant (Idiocracy used to just be a Movie... Live every day as your last...one day you will be right)
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To: TexasTransplant
Death by 1000 small cuts, eh? I got rid of a yellow jacket nest which moved under a paving stone in my front lawn about this time last year.

I wasn't willing to attack them head on for obvious reasons, but one cold morning just before frost, I bored a tunnel underneath the rock with a power drill and long auger. Then I diverted a roof drain pipe toward that tunnel. Between the rains of late fall and a cold winter, they were gone by spring thaw, except for a lot of corpses.

74 posted on 10/07/2015 10:09:17 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

Coffee ZombAnts.


75 posted on 10/07/2015 10:14:23 AM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: All
To all who love horned lizards; you can buy a replica from Amazon that looks so real that you can't believe it. I bought one and keep it on the table beside my sofa because I love them so:

http://www.amazon.com/Safari-Incredible-Creatures-Horned-Lizard/dp/B004I28CYC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1444238048&sr=8-6&keywords=horned+lizards

Horned Lizard from Amazon:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

76 posted on 10/07/2015 10:23:03 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: Ditter

see my post #76


77 posted on 10/07/2015 10:24:17 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: JoeProBono

See my post #76


78 posted on 10/07/2015 10:26:19 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: Mastador1

See my post # 76


79 posted on 10/07/2015 10:27:37 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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To: Yaelle

See my post #76


80 posted on 10/07/2015 10:28:15 AM PDT by patriot08 (4th geneneration Texan (girl type))
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