East Coast braces for invasive flying spiders
The Joro spider, Asian long-horned beetle and spotted lanternfly person institution this summer.
A "sneaky" invasive taxon that has a perchance deadly sting continues to dispersed crossed the U.S. and tin beryllium recovered successful much than a twelve states, according to experts.
Asian needle ants were archetypal detected successful the U.S. astir a period ago, but the taxon has continued to grow its reach, chiefly passim the Southeast, and this pest could perchance beryllium deadly to humans, according to Dan Suiter, a prof of municipality entomology astatine the University of Georgia.
"It injects venom that tin harm you. Its sting tin beryllium beingness threatening," Suiter precocious told the university.
Suiter added that radical who person adverse reactions to bee and ant stings are particularly susceptible and could spell into anaphylactic daze from the needle ant's sting. Anaphylaxis is simply a perchance life-threatening allergic absorption that tin hap wrong seconds of being exposed to thing you're allergic to, specified arsenic a sting, according to the Mayo Clinic.
"If you endure from anaphylaxis, you should truly cognize what this ant looks like," Suiter says. "And it mightiness beryllium astute to transportation an EpiPen."
Suiter urged radical to beryllium vigilant for these invasive species, particularly with ant populations peaking aboriginal this summer.
What are Asian needle ants?
Asian needle ants are technically known arsenic Brachyponera chinensis – astir translated arsenic "short, wicked ant from China" – but their autochthonal scope besides includes Japan and the Koreas, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The insect was archetypal discovered successful the U.S. successful 1932 successful Georgia, but has lone precocious started to "cause problems successful North America aft being comparatively unnoticed for galore years," the U.S. Forest Service says.
Asian needle ants were archetypal detected successful the U.S. astir a period ago, but the invasive taxon has continued to spread, experts say.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The pest has present been detected each the mode from Washington authorities to Florida, according to the site antmaps.org arsenic good arsenic Mississippi State University, and the ant is precocious getting much attraction successful Texas.
Suiter says Asian needle ants are "sneaky" due to the fact that they are little than a 4th of an inch agelong and are adept astatine hiding.
"Unlike galore invasive taxon that thin to colonize areas successful the aftermath of earthy oregon quality disturbance, Asian needle ants are susceptible of invading undisturbed wood areas wherever they nest nether and wrong logs and different debris, nether stones, and successful leafage litter," the U.S. Forest Service says.
Environmental impacts
According to Suiter, Asian needle ants wreak havoc successful autochthonal environments.
"They outcompete different ant taxon that are important to the ecology of that area," helium says.
Asian needle ants prey connected different insects and are susceptible of displacing ant taxon that are captious for effect dispersal, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Researchers person documented ample decreases successful effect dispersal successful forests wherever Asian needle ants are present.
"Thus, this invasive taxon could person dramatic, semipermanent antagonistic effects connected wood understory," the work says.
What should radical bash if they spot Asian needle ants?
Asian needle ants are astir 0.2 inches successful length, and acheronian brownish oregon achromatic with the extremity of the antennae and the legs being a lighter orange-brown, the U.S. Forest Service says. Other ant taxon tin look similar, "so it takes an experienced oculus to positively place them," the work says.
Suiter says that you tin nonstop a photograph oregon a specimen to a section University of Georgia Extension office, which tin assistance with identification. The nationalist tin besides interaction a nonrecreational to travel retired and bait for the ants, helium says.
The U.S. Forest Service advises radical to debar the pest and to beryllium particularly vigilant successful areas with logs and rotting oregon rocks were the ants tin nest.
"Unfortunately, arsenic with galore invasive species, it appears Asian needle ants are present to stay," the work says.
Stephen Smith is simply a managing exertion for CBSNews.com based successful New York. A Washington, D.C. native, Steve was antecedently an editorial shaper for the Washington Post, and has besides worked successful Los Angeles, Boston and Tokyo.
English (US) ·