Pests are considered pests for a reason, and in Arkansas, one of our most formidable pests is the fire ant. Fire ants are territorial, aggressive, and pack one heck of a sting that can represent serious trouble to those who are allergic to their bites. But at least we don’t have crazy ants. Here’s a recent story out of Houston about what perhaps is south Texas’ most formidable pest — the crazy ant. The crazy ant, imported from South America, has been known to displace fire ant colonies and is immune to the fire ant sting. Plus, crazy ants chew through insulation and electrical systems, causing much damage to homes. Crazy ants become active in late April, and so far, they are confined to areas along the Gulf Coast. But they’ve slowly advanced up the coast from south Texas to reach as far away as Florida since being introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s. Here’s more from Fox News Houston about that city’s preparation for the 2014 arrival of these havoc-wreaking pests. This is one horror film plot that may be all too real: Billions of voracious ants are about to descend on the Houston area, destroying entire homes and anything else that gets in their way. Rasberry Crazy Ants, even more destructive and mobile than their angry cousins, fire ants, are just weeks away from descending on the largest city in Texas. Since 2008, the ants, which entomologists believe came to Texas from South America aboard a cargo ship in the 1930s, have expanded their presence to 27 counties from just eight. Once in a home, they zero in on electrical systems, chewing through insulation and causing short circuits and general havoc. “I’ve been in houses where every time you took a step you’d literally be stepping on thousands of ants with each step,” exterminator Tom Rasberry told FoxNews.com. The hairy, reddish-brown ant is named after Rasberry because he was the first one to spot the insect in a Houston suburb in 2002. The ant, also known as the Tawny Crazy Ant, is even known to fight the fierce-stinging fire ant, another Texas scourge. Dormant until late April, Rasberry Crazy Ants thrive as temperatures heat up, prompting fears of a new advance in the coming weeks.
