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floating fire ant rafts

Started by Guest_bbrown_* , Mar 26 2012 05:55 PM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_bbrown_*

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 05:55 PM

Not a fish, but they can certainly ruin an otherwise enjoyable day on the water.

I've always heard that fire ants are able to form floating "rafts" in response to flooding, but had never seen it until recently.
There were dozens, if not hundreds of these fire ant balls floating on Lake Texoma after a recent water rise. They ranged from golf to volley ball size and are apparently able to survive this way for some time, as I am still seeing ant rafts a week later.

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fire ants.jpg 135.27KB 8 downloads
ants 2.jpg 139.11KB 6 downloads

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#2 Guest_davidjh2_*

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 06:58 PM

If they weren't fire ants those rafts would be so cool. Since they are fire ants I'm thinking a handful of large rocks would be so cool.

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#3 Guest_fundulus_*

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 07:14 PM

You'd have a hard time doing significant damage to these rafts. The queen is in the center, and the workers form a protective layer. Even if 90% of the workers are lost, the colony will probably recover and prosper.

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#4 Guest_bbrown_*

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Posted 26 March 2012 - 09:29 PM

The cone shaped rafts appear to be living mounds with tunnels made of ants. Business seems to be going on as normal, with the exception that their home is made of ants instead of dirt.