Argentine ant species have been poised to invade the UK as more and more sightings have been noted in the country. Dubbed as "crazy ants," the insects from South America are said to have real sharp teeth that can bite through electrical wirings, which subject them to exhibit jerky movements.
The ants are almost black and possess red hairy exteriors. An ant measures about three millimeters long and are known to establish big colonies between timbers and wall cracks. The most conducive environment for these ants are those that have high temperatures as they thrive in warm places and cannot live outside for long. With this, the crazy ants are said to be mostly found in areas where there are continuous heat such as in heated water pipes.
These insects may also be found near places where food rich in sugars and proteins are located. They usually stay near food manufacturing sites; hence, experts said that restaurant and food companies are at risk of infestation. They are also known to cause a wide variety of diseases including streptococcus infections and salmonella, which all the more put the food business in potential trouble.
Basis Prompt, a register of pest control companies in Birmingham and West Midlands has already issued an alert for the possible infestations of the ants. The crazy ants add up to the list of tropical species that have been invading the region, David Cross told the Birmingham Mail. Among the ants noted in the area are the "ghost ants," which when crushed, release a smell that is comparable to a decaying flesh. "Pharaohs" are another ant species known to be included in the list of ant invaders in the UK; these insects have established extensive presence in heated buildings, hospitals and jails.
These species of ants used to stay in only one part of the world; however, it seems as if they are being transported all around the globe, comments Cross. Tropical ants have truly exhibited a massive increase in populations and are continuously doing so. At present, experts have observed much more problems associated with the ant colonies compared to any other circumstances in the past. The ants are said to have travelled from the tropical regions to the UK via container ships carrying food products or soft furnishings.
Photo: John Tann | Flickr
