Are fire ants worse this spring because of Hurricane Harvey?

Ecologists are checking to see if floods gave advantage to invasive ants

Date:

March 26, 2018

Source:

Rice University

Summary:

Ecologists are checking to see if Hurricane Harvey's unprecedented floods gave a competitive boost to fire ants and crazy ants, two of southeast Texas' least favorite uninvited guests.

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Rice University ecologists Sarah Bengston and Tom Miller examine ants at Big Thicket National Preserve near Beaumont, Texas. The researchers are studying whether Hurricane Harvey's unprecedented floods gave a competitive boost to invasive fire ants and crazy ants.

Credit: Brandon Martin/Rice University