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http://www.boingbo...pon-turns-fir.html
New weapon turns fire ants into headless zombies
The attention-grabbing headline above is about a University of Texas at Austin effort to use parasitic flies as a defense against fire ants. Apparently, phorid flies control the fire ant population naturally in South America. From the Associated Press:
The flies lay eggs on the fire ants, and the eggs hatch into maggots inside the ant and eat away at the pest's tiny brain.
The ant will get up and wander for about two weeks while the maggot feeds, said Rob Plowes, a research associate at the University of Texas at Austin.
"There is no brain left in the ant, and the ant just starts wandering aimlessly," he said.
About a month after the egg is laid, the ant's head falls off — and a new fly emerges ready to attack another fire ant.
Gross. I hate bugs and stuff like this is why.
“You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.” |
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I think this explains some of Samurai's posts.
mutantMandias may cause dizziness, sexual nightmares, and sleep crime. ++++ mutantMandias has to return some videotapes ++++ Do not taunt mutantMandias
mutantMandias is something more than human, more than a computer. mutantMandias is a murderously intelligent, sensually self-programmed, non-being |
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If I were an ant I would be horrified
http://ardamass.deviantart.com/
http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?ardamass
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If I were an ant I would be more afraid of that crazy fungus that eats through me... Just sayin.
http://www.youtube...IBBAL8&feature=fvw
BBC ftw!
If you're having a stressed out day remember the sloth: They don't do shit and they haven't gone extinct; I'm sure you can afford to take a nap... |
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Hardcore thx for posting that
http://ardamass.deviantart.com/
http://kevan.org/brain.cgi?ardamass
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Posted by Ardamass
Hardcore thx for posting that
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Definitely. Spooky but very interesting at the same time.
Gone for a while. Be back when I'm back. |
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I heard cockroaches were the same way. You can cut the head off, but it will be fine for a while. I don't remember how long, but I'm pretty sure it was between 2 days to 2 weeks.
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I know flies are part of the great circle of life and all that but I wouldn't mind if they all disappeared from the earth. Leave ants alone!
“You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.” |
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Posted by Esoterik
I know flies are part of the great circle of life and all that but I wouldn't mind if they all disappeared from the earth. Leave ants alone!
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Fire. Ants. Can. Kill. You.
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
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Posted by TheVicariousVadder
Fire. Ants. Can. Kill. You.
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where I live if I want to see fire ants I have to watch the discovery channel. No worries here.
[last edit 8/18/2009 4:53 AM by Esoterik - edited 1 times]
“You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons.” |
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Posted by Esoterik
where I live if I want to see fire ants I have to watch the discovery channel. No worries here.
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Same here. I can stomach spiders, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, other nasties
but
Leeches and parasitic worms make me go "bleeeeeeh"
edit* speling
[last edit 8/18/2009 4:59 AM by \/adder - edited 1 times]
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
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Posted by TheVicariousVadder
Same here. I can stomach spiders, ticks, mosquitoes, wasps, other nasties
but
Leeches and parasitic worms make me go "bleeeeeeh"
edit* speling
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We had fire ants in our back yard in Florida. Hell, we had fucking alligators in our back yard. But that's besides the point. When you live around it for years, you kinda get used to it.
I don't think I'll ever get used to mosquitos though. Ughhh those fuckers are annoying as hell.
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Ethics
