Detecting herds of super ants, the team stretches to 38km

A survey of biodiversity carried out in a forested area of ​​Ethiopia has yielded unexpected results, which may result in a new insect order around the world.

Researchers found evidence that the ants Lepisiota canescen carried signs that could form a giant herd of animals.

On this Earth, there are only 20 species of animals that perform this form and the researchers warn that this ant species in particular and all ants in general have become an invasive species throughout. place in the world.

The giant herd - This herd is a pack of creatures that not only encapsulates a large nest, but they evolve into a giant organization that spreads many kilometers.

This unrestrained development ability makes such a huge herd to be very dangerous. In the Ethiopian study, scientists found that such many superheroes L. canescen and the largest herd had a nest stretching 38km.

These microscopic analysis of ants suggests that they have a lot in common with a super herd. Currently, these are the largest ant colonies in the locality ever recorded.

Ants Lepisiota canescen.

Other factors found such as how to nest and expand the area, ways to feed and use food, all indicate that this is a property of an invasive species.

A number of other species of this Lepisiota species have also been warned in many regions of the world about their level of aggression and destruction.

One of the notable events was in Kruger National Park in South Africa, where the breed made Darwin Harbor closed for several days.

"The ant species we found in Ethiopia have great potential to become a globally invasive species , " said researcher Magdalena Sorger. She is currently working with some other scientists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science to study the behavior of this species.

This ant species has a great potential to become a globally invasive species.

According to her, this study is of great significance for two reasons:

First , this super-herd form in the ant species is extremely rare, only 20 species live on this Earth.

Secondly , other species of Lepisiota have also caused destructive conditions in many parts of the world. Worse, they are spreading at a dizzying speed.

And this may just be the beginning of this great invasion. That's what research leader Sorger said.

Usually, this invasive animal follows people from one area to another, sheltering in luggage or food transported and distributed in many places. Currently, the way to prevent them from spreading to other areas has not been studied.

This Ethiopian forest area could be the starting point of a large species, capable of invading other regions very high.

Sorger believes that this forested area in Ethiopia could be the starting point of a large species, capable of invading other regions very high."It is very rare to have the opportunity to study the information of a species before it is invasive , " Sorger said.

This is a rare opportunity and today's research will be a premise to find a solution, if everything goes out of control.