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Do you know why the movement method of yellow crazy ants is called "crazy"?
The crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes), also known as the long-legged ant or the Maldivian ant, is a species of ant originally thought to have originated in West Africa or Asia. This ant species was accidentally introduced to tropical areas around the world, and its movement pattern is also eye-catching. Its erratic and rapid movements have been described as "crazy," making it one of the world's largest invasive ants.
The movement pattern of yellow crazy ants is just as their name suggests. When they are disturbed, their reactions are often abnormal and difficult to predict.
The yellow crazy ants' features include long legs and antennae, their body colours ranging from yellow to orange and large eyes, making them very conspicuous in nature. Some researchers believe that one of the reasons why this ant was included in the list of "the world's 100 most destructive invasive species" in 2015 is because of its ability to expand in new environments and its impact on other insects. Threats to ethnic groups.
Physiological characteristics
Although yellow crazy ants play an important role in the ecosystem, their existence poses a great threat to the local overall ecology. These ants are particularly adept at "predatory feeding," eating a wide range of foods, including grains, seeds, insects, and other decaying organic matter. Their physiological characteristics enable them to hunt and survive effectively among other organisms, advantages that further facilitate their spread in ecosystems.
While crazy ants have no ability to bite or sting, they can use their acid spray for defense and hunting, putting other organisms in their ecosystem at a disadvantage.
Geographical range and spread
The yellow crazy ant's natural habitat is mainly distributed in the humid tropical lowlands of Southeast Asia, and it has been introduced to several tropical and subtropical regions, including Australia and some Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. Because of their generalized nesting habits, these ants are often spread via human transportation.
Impact on Ecosystems
On Christmas Island, an invasion of yellow crazy ants has had a profound impact on biodiversity. They pose a serious threat to the number of macaque crabs on the island, and there are even records showing that these ants have reduced the number of ground crabs by tens of millions. This not only disrupted the host ecosystem, but also changed the species composition of the island's forests.
Studies have shown that yellow crazy ants can cause a significant reduction in the number of secret dancing crabs in parts of Christmas Island within a year, seriously threatening the stability of the entire forest ecosystem.
Control measures and future challenges
Due to the problems caused by the spread of yellow crazy ants, Australia has begun actively implementing control measures. Local authorities have launched a series of aerial baiting programs in the hope of reducing the reach of these super colonies. In addition, there are new biological control measures, such as introducing insects that specifically attack their food sources to limit the living space of yellow crazy ants, but the effectiveness of these strategies remains to be tested.
Although current measures have shown effectiveness, escaping ant colonies will still cause repeated infestations, which may cause permanent damage to the ecosystem if not continuously controlled. The characteristics of these invasive ants and the threat they pose to local biodiversity are worrying. How should future environmental protection find a balance in the war against invasive species?
