Jul 1 2009Like I Don't Have Enough To Worry About: Mega Ant Colony Is Taking Over The World

Ant colonies, like rabbits, are cuddly prolific. So prolific, in fact, scientists have just discovered a single interrelated colony of Argentine ants that has populated much of the globe. ATTAAACK!
The colony may be the largest of its type ever known for any insect species, and could rival humans in the scale of its world domination.
While ants are usually highly territorial, those living within each super-colony are tolerant of one another, even if they live tens or hundreds of kilometres apart. Each super-colony, however, was thought to be quite distinct.But it now appears that billions of Argentine ants around the world all actually belong to one single global mega-colony.
So they're all relatives. But way more so than say, you and I are. So....it's cool if I touch your butt, right? I mean it's not like we're ants or anything.
Ant mega-colony takes over world [bbcnews]
Thanks to Alistair and 2MechanicalArms, who may or may not have fire ants in their pants. They do, I put them there.

Reader Comments
1. Ubu7 - July 1, 2009 2:07 PM
FIRST-TARDATION
2. Ubu7 - July 1, 2009 2:08 PM
All posters after this like to eat Nerds out of homless bums' bums.
3. not sure - July 1, 2009 2:13 PM
Woot! argentine ants in the pants!
@2 who doesn't
4. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 1, 2009 2:14 PM
@2
Fück you , Joe Boo.
5. naas - July 1, 2009 2:16 PM
Looks like some warfare ants engineered by the government, but not as scary as siafu (see-ah-foo)
http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp353/levtovrobin/siafuant.jpg
6. STOMPY - July 1, 2009 2:21 PM
At least they are not the zombie ants!
http://detectovision.com/pics/jobu2.jpg
7. sage - July 1, 2009 2:29 PM
i for one welcome our agent ine masters...gw
8. Louiekidd - July 1, 2009 2:29 PM
there's a typo in the article, it says "Agentine ants", missed an "R"
Totally unimportant, but the ants might get angry for missing their beloved R in their country...i don't want ants in my pants
9. GLADIATOR - July 1, 2009 2:30 PM
" it is us who likely created the ant mega-colony by initially transporting the insects around the world, and by continually introducing ants from the three continents to each other, ensuring the mega-colony continues to mingle."
The ants can thank humans for helping them colonate the world. Bow down to the humans you puny ants *squish*
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*
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Come and join the short and easy game mybrute:
http://burpnassker.mybrute.com
The game takes less than 5 minutes to play!
10. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - July 1, 2009 2:38 PM
They must be Catholics.
11. $.02 and a pocket full of FAH-Q - July 1, 2009 2:39 PM
Secret... Agent Ants!
Secret... Agent Ants!
They've given you a number, and taken away your name...
12. Jonny Quest - July 1, 2009 2:40 PM
These aren't as scary as the ants in "Empire of the Ants."
13. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 1, 2009 2:44 PM
Beware of pretty faces that you find
A pretty face can hide an evil mind
Ah, be careful what you say
Or you'll give yourself away
Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow
14. Daisy - July 1, 2009 2:45 PM
FAKE!!!!
This is a complete photoshop job. You can tell its a fake because the shadow's are all wrong.
This is exactly like that scene in the movie Never Back Down where Max and dad were home being very careful to keep the house clean because Aunt Bea was on vacation. Then a few minutes befire she returned they got the uidea that if the house was clean she wouldn't feel like they need her, so they went around and messed the whole house up.
15. STOMPY - July 1, 2009 3:09 PM
Great, now i got that song in my, and the only cure, is to watch the hoff screw the song up... sorry FAH-Q, here comes a vid...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKuQXGrFSQ0
16. STOMPY - July 1, 2009 3:12 PM
okay, looks like the hoff is busy taking way too much coke and making effed up covers off songs,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQVlVHsFF8&feature=related
17. henree - July 1, 2009 3:13 PM
they don't bite.... so WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
18. naas - July 1, 2009 3:22 PM
Damn, that's a little like an acid trip STOMPY
19. Ubu7 - July 1, 2009 3:36 PM
@4 Strike too close to home, did I? Or do you prefer boston baked beans instead of Nerds? You tater twat.
20. Antso - July 1, 2009 3:37 PM
Worlds biggest Ant Pile!!!!
http://driftwood-x.mybrute.com
21. Gordon "Fücking" Shumway - July 1, 2009 3:46 PM
Everyone who posts and ends up being number 19 likes to eat Nerds out of homless bums' bums.
See, I can do it too. Now do you see how fücking stupid you are?
Everyone who replies to this post is a shit packing faggot.
22. That gai - July 1, 2009 4:02 PM
KILL IT, KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!!
23. Ray Doggy Dogg - July 1, 2009 4:46 PM
I wonder if they gestate and hatch in massive numbers from pods in say, oh, sewers.....
24. Jerry - July 1, 2009 5:11 PM
I for one welcome our new insec.......Dang it #7!
http://bootelicious.mybrute.com
25. Uncle Eccoli - July 1, 2009 5:14 PM
What does that even mean? Ants of this species from different parts of the globe don't kill each other? Er, so?
26. Ubu7 - July 1, 2009 5:26 PM
@ 19 Dude, you are handsome, witty and wise.
@ 4 You are tater twat?
Everyone that posts between 20 and 22 is describing themselves. And needs a hobby involving glue and no internet. Chump meat.
*HAMMER DANCE* Cain't touch dis.
27. pez dispenser - July 1, 2009 6:06 PM
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28. pez dispenser - July 1, 2009 6:07 PM
:( I drew an awesome arrow that pointed to my name but it got dead-a-fied
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31. Willie Nixon - July 1, 2009 8:37 PM
Some other interesting facts about Argentine ant facts:
- A single nest can have up to 10 queens.
- A nest can be created with a single queen and 4 workers.
- The queens are mobile and are often seen moving with "the line".
- As noted in the story they are the most prolific ant species in the world.
- One key to controlling them is removing weeds from your yard - some have sugary sap that they harvest.
- They hate f*cking cinnamon.
- You can create severe damage to a hive by mixing boric acid, sugar and water - BUT - if you use too much boric acid, and it kills them too fast, they will avoid it and you are once again screwed.
- 409 dissolves them (the chitin) like magic and leaves fresh scent.
- They are harmless, but VERY annoying.
For the true Insect geeks, read any book by EO Wilson. Brilliant.
32. Willie Nixon - July 1, 2009 8:41 PM
Sorry the book by EO Wilson that directly relates to this post is "The Superorganism"
If anybody just read that as "the Superorgasm" you need to stop clicking so much porn.
And if your thinking it's written by Captain EO, you've been reading up on too much Michael Jackson and need get a life.
33. scurl - July 1, 2009 10:12 PM
this reminds me, i need to set out more corn syrup/borax mix to keep the ants out of my garden. and kitchen. and :
what, i can say lol but not : instead of colon?! talk about anal.
34. Ubu7 - July 2, 2009 12:53 AM
@31 Hear, hear! Read some (anything by) Thomas Eisner if you're into it. He did some wicked studies of bombardier beetles.
35. Jaded Icon - July 2, 2009 7:46 AM
ants = most interesting insect on the planet
No sh*t, I'd watch national geographic all day if they had more ant stories.
36. 137 - July 2, 2009 9:01 AM
@35 i'd watch national geographic all day too if they had more ant stories.
ants and humans are the only ones on this world to keep pets.
37. led display - July 2, 2009 10:45 AM
that has populated much of the globe. ATTAAACK!