Posted on 06/19/2022 4:16:52 PM PDT by Scarlett156
(audio)
Scientists say they've figured out at least part of North America's invasive, imported fire ant problem by turning a virus that kills them into a weapon.
A group of researchers from Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina universities said in their new study, published in the print edition of the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology this month, that they successfully reduced wild Florida populations of imported fire ants. The ants reduce nearby biodiversity, so the team used a virus called Solenopsis invicta virus 3 to kill them.
"Laboratory tests have shown that Solenopsis invicta virus 3 may be an effective natural control agent against its host, the red imported fire ant," the so-authors wrote.
The Washington Post says both the imported red and black fire ants are native to South America and were introduced in the 1930s.
(Excerpt) Read more at futurism.com ...
Human hubris.... sigh
One good thing about fire ants: they eat ticks.
I guess Antpox is next.
Since ants are non-White, when the virus starts to infect humans, anyone calling it the “Ant Virus” will be branded as a racist.
“Some of them are good.”
And Fire ants kill and eat all those beneficial insects. They also kill lizards, spiders, and baby chicks, calves, and lambs. If they are not in your area, you should be happy.
My concern would be what this does to native ants?
...or JIP for short. Must reading for anyone interested in pest control.
“Empire of the Ants.”
“Them.”
Coming to a theater near you.
5.56mm
I can't believe this is even been proposed.
Sure it is.😵💫
What a great idea. There couldn’t possibly be any consequences.
I got destroyed by red fire ants at Patrick AFB. I put on my camouflage pants at 0530 in the dark, and just felt burning pain. I threw on the lights and dropped my pants and had hundreds of ants biting me. I must have wiped my hands on pants after eating the day before. It was not fun…
Release it, then it mutates and wipes out the honeybee and we all starve.
Has anyone seen “I am Legend”? ANYONE?
Never, never ever works out as planned. There are hundreds of cases that “scientists” modified mosquitoes, introduced preditors, etc. and in all cases the “law of unintended consequences” raised its ugly and vicious head.
For some weird reason, Smith having to kill his dog is the worst part.
That’s actually more correct than you realize
I think I’ve seen this movie.
ypu are correct.
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