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http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9086098
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The ants have been dubbed Crazy Rasberry ants after Tom Rasberry, owner of Budget Pest Control in Pearland, Texas. He first tackled this particular type of ant back in 2002. Since then, the problem has only escalated.
Rasberry told Computerworld that the ants have caused a lot of trouble for one Texas chemical company in particular. Not wanting to name the company, he said the ants shorted out three different computers that were running a pipeline that brought chemicals into the plant. The ants took down two computers last year and one in 2006, affecting flow in the pipeline each time.
"I think they go into everything and they don't follow any kind of structured line," said Rasberry. "If you open a computer, you would find a cluster of ants on the motherboard and all over. You'd get 3,000 or 4,000 ants inside and they create arcs. They'll wipe out any computer."
The Johnson Space Center called in Rasberry a month or two ago in an attempt to keep the ants out of their facilities. Too late. Raspberry said he's found three colonies at the NASA site, but all have been small enough to control.
'With the computer systems they have in there, it could devastate the facility," said Rasberry. "If these ants got into the facility in the numbers they have in other locations, well, it would be awful. I've been in this business for 32 years and this is unlike anything I've ever seen. Anything. When you bring in entomologists from all over the United States and they're in shock and awe, that shows you what it's like."
lisab said:I read about these ants before. They're supposedly attracted to electonics! How odd!
And when you do kill these ants, the survivors turn it to their advantage: They pile up the dead, sometimes using them as a bridge to cross safely over surfaces treated with pesticide.
Edwardo_Elric said:ive experienced this before my keyboard was infested with ants
Crazy Rasberry ants, also known as Nylanderia fulva, are an invasive species of ant native to South America. They are named after Tom Rasberry, an exterminator who first identified the species in Texas in 2002.
Crazy Rasberry ants have been spotted near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX. This is likely due to the warm, humid climate of the area, which is similar to their native habitat in South America.
Crazy Rasberry ants are not known to pose a direct threat to humans. However, they can cause damage to electrical equipment by nesting and short-circuiting it. They can also displace other native ant species, causing disruptions to the local ecosystem.
There are a few methods for controlling Crazy Rasberry ants, including baits, insecticides, and physical barriers. However, due to their large and rapidly growing colonies, it can be difficult to completely eradicate them.
The spread of Crazy Rasberry ants is being closely monitored by government agencies and researchers. In addition, efforts are being made to educate the public on how to prevent the accidental transportation of these ants to new areas, such as by inspecting and treating outdoor items before moving them to a different location.