Sunday 20 November 2011

The Red Imported Fire Ants form an unsinkable raft to escape floods!


This species was accidentally brought over from Brazil to the United States in the 1930s. They have thrived because they have great survival skills and are more aggressive than other ants. They are more painful to humans and cause a lot of damage to plans, or this reason they're considered pests.
However, one of their most impressive abilities shows when there is an increase in water level. If this happens, the colony comes together in the shape of a raft or ball that is able to float. The workers stay on the outside and the queen stays safe inside.  
Once they come to a stationary object, they swarm it and wait for the water levels to come down. Check out the video below to see this impressive behavior. 

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