Invasive “crazy ants” are rapidly displacing fire ants in
areas across the southeastern U.S. by secreting a compound that neutralizes
fire ant venom, according to a University of Texas at Austin study published
this week in the journal Science Express. It’s the first known example of an
insect with the ability to detoxify another insect’s venom.
The crazy ant invasion is the latest in a series of ant
invasions from the southern hemisphere and, like its predecessors, will likely
have dramatic effects on the region’s ecosystems.