Fire ants survive in the rising floodwaters in the wake of hurricane Harvey - Sensationalist Headlines

[IMG]http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/x_large/public/articles/2017/08/30/diss5lcvaaiy1y6.jpg?itok=2pzdCD8E[/IMG] [QUOTE]HOUSTON - Fire ants, known for their very painful bites which sting like crazy and causes victims to feel like the wounds are burning, have emerged in the waters of hurricane Harvey. Social media is abuzz with sightings of the colonies floating in clusters in the floodwaters. The species apparently possesses an incredible survival mechanism. According to Huffington Post, each fire ant is slightly water resistant. When caught in a big body of water, ant colonies work together by joining up and forming a bigger waterproof raft, helping them stay afloat and survive rising waters, which has happened in Houston. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomology specialist Mike Merchant told Huffington Post the colonies "keep the queen and other members of the colony in the middle of the ball dry so they don't suffocate." The ants constantly switch positions as they float along, to prevent drowning. [/QUOTE] [url]http://www.straitstimes.com/world/fire-ants-survive-in-the-rising-waters-of-hurricane-harvey?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&xtor=CS1-10#link_time=1504088740[/url] Man fuck fireants

This happened in my area too when we had some flooding from heavy rains the other month.

Ants are so fucking cool.

after all the damage and deaths the flood otherwise causes, it could at least kill fire ants, but noooo

Just when you thought "well at least the floods are gonna kill all the satan bugs", nope

This is your chance. Attack while they are exposed!

[QUOTE=F.X Clampazzo;52630231]Ants are so fucking cool.[/QUOTE] well yea why they die all the time? fuckin losers tbh lmao

What if we shoot the ants with AKs?

[QUOTE=Petrussen;52630276]This is your chance. Attack while they are exposed![/QUOTE] Scoop them up in a garbage bag and then throw it in a fire.

[QUOTE=NostalgicBird;52630311]What if we shoot the ants with AKs?[/QUOTE] That would just divide them into smaller groups of ants. It's like those boss battles where the main boss splits into three when you kill them for the first time.

[QUOTE=OvB;52630315]Scoop them up in a garbage bag and then throw it in a fire.[/QUOTE] but they're fire ants, it will only make them stronger

[QUOTE=The freeman;52630318]That would just divide them into smaller groups of ants. It's like those boss battles where the main boss splits into three when you kill them for the first time.[/QUOTE] Some may die

ONE MILLION ANTS! Jokes aside, I've always found it incredibly impressive how these ants do this. They're even capable of creating ant bridges across small caverns to reach food I've heard.

I CAN FINALLY MAKE THIS PUN WITH REAL PURPOSE [I]they're buoyant[/I]

i heard if you squirt dish soap on them it will break the surface tension and the ants will drown

Thanks ants. Thants.

[video=youtube;NpiDADw5Omw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpiDADw5Omw[/video] cool stuff

[QUOTE=Porkychop~;52630545]i heard if you squirt dish soap on them it will break the surface tension and the ants will drown[/QUOTE] Detergent destroys surface tension, so yes, it would drown them. I thought everyone learned this in high school chemistry class?

I thought fire types were against water attacks..

I know this gets brought up often. But every time it does, reminds me how fucking cool and fucking terrifying ants are.

I hate fucking fire ants so much. I was in Florida with my family like 15 years ago and we were getting ice cream at some rinky dink place with a teeny playground outside. The second I sat down to get my snack on I sat on a rail that happened to be crawling with them. Literally ants in my pants, and they were biting like mad.

[QUOTE=Demache;52632363]I know this gets brought up often. But every time it does, reminds me how fucking cool and fucking terrifying ants are.[/QUOTE] It reminds me of the video showing ants picking a dead lizard completely clean, and someone commented "I don't know how anyone can possibly be afraid of spiders after seeing what ants can do".