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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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7

Crazy Ants Swarm Gulf Coast

Tiny, frenetic munchers invade homes, snack on electrical wiring

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(Newser) – Billions of "crazy ants" are munching their way through Gulf Coast counties in Florida and Texas, the Wall Street Journal reports. The tiny insects, believed to have originated in the Caribbean, happily make their homes in human dwellings and are tough to dislodge once they move in. The ants often chew through electrical wiring, shorting equipment, and experts fear they may soon be costing the region billions of dollars in damages, like the fire ants that plague the South.

The ants—called "crazy" because they move in all directions instead of in a straight line—have been wiping out beehives and have been sighted as far north as San Antonio this summer. "It's in my best interest for these things to spread everywhere," says one exterminator who has been lobbying the government to take more aggressive action against them. "But I was born and raised in Texas, and I have a real concern about the impact these critters could have on our state."

Crazy ants attack a honeybee on a hive tray in Pearland, Texas.
Crazy ants attack a honeybee on a hive tray in Pearland, Texas.   (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
"Crazy rasberry ants" are shownin Deer Park, Texas. The ants are throwing off the balance of nature as they feast on beneficial insects, researchers say.   (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tom Rasberry, , an exterminator, lets
Tom Rasberry, , an exterminator, lets "crazy rasberry ants", named after him, crawl on his arm in Deer Park, Texas.   (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Eexterminator Tom Rasberry photographs Rasberry crazy ants attacking a honeybee hive in Pearland, Texas.
Eexterminator Tom Rasberry photographs Rasberry crazy ants attacking a honeybee hive in Pearland, Texas.   (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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They reminded me of the children of Jericho, marching around Jerusalem. - Rev. Winifred Jones, whose church in Pearland Texas is facing thousands of dollars in extermination costs

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7 comments
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atomick
Sep 5, 09 9:02 AM CDT
Of course the crazies are always drawn to the Red States. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
shonangreg
Sep 5, 09 9:28 AM CDT
It is God's punishment for abortion doctor killings, town hall crashings, government propaganda, diluting the Word of God, unnecessary wars, ignoring the poor, helping dictators, increasing corruption, turning plows into swords, etc. Those damned godless Republicans. They even prayed for rain on Obama's DNC speech.
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0
IN RESPONSE:
riffran
Sep 5, 09 6:55 PM CDT
it's ants asshole, not ideology
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
JohnnyDummkopf
Sep 5, 09 7:57 PM CDT
Yeah, shonangreg! Enough of your Ant-ics! (it's a dirty job but someone has to do it)
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+1
passinthru
Sep 5, 09 9:43 AM CDT
um...last time i checked this was about ANTS...just saying. Reply
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+4

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