I can't make this stuff up, you know

[mdlbear]

Houston being overrun by electronics-killing ants - Engadget

We'll let you read the hed again -- nope, it's not a joke. Apparently millions of tiny swarming ants called "crazy raspberry ants" are causing quite a ruckus down in Houston after they accidentally arrived on board a cargo ship and started busily invading homes and offices, where they are attracted to electrical equipment. So far they've messed up sewage pumps, cause fire alarms to go haywire, destroyed computers, and taken out at least one gas meter -- and since they're resistant to over-the-counter ant killers and each colony has multiple queens, they're nearly impossible to kill. Worse, those that do die are used by the remaining ants as bridges over pesticide-treated areas. Yep, that's insanely creepy. Anyone in Houston got any horror stories to share?

(Click through for creepy picture. Oh, yes... according to this article (from this post by wcg),
they eat fire ants. Every silver lining has a cloud around it, you know.)

Comments

[jilara.livejournal.com]

I've heard of insects being attracted to electrical currents, and have thought it's definitely an under-investigated area.

[singingpatient.livejournal.com]

if it's not the bubonic plague, it's kylie minogue and her unnecessary remake of the locomotion.

[semy-of-pearls.livejournal.com]

I don't know about stories directly from Houston, but we've had a bitch of a time here at work. We've got several sites in Houston that have been affected, and techs are scrambling to repair the damaged wiring.

Though, from what I understand, these ants kill fire ants, so they can't be all bad...

[mdlbear]

Ironic, that. I suppose it remains to be seen which species is worse.