Buzz
Ants, with species numbering in the tens of thousands, are practically everywhere. Their greatest populations flourish in tropical rainforests, though they can be found across the globe. Known for their impeccable organization and success, these creatures are, at their core, sinister.
10. Ants Eliminate Their Old Zombie Companions
In South America, there exists a species of carpenter ant that can become infected by the spores of a deadly fungus. As the fungus grows, it takes control of the ant’s brain, transforming it into a zombie-like creature. The fungus forces the ant to ascend a leaf, latch onto it with its mandibles, and then die, allowing the fungus to sprout from its body and spread onto the leaf.
In a study on this parasitic fungus, scientists discovered that healthy ants actively prevent infected ants from entering their colony. They transport the diseased ants far away and leave them stranded or dispose of their deceased bodies. These vigilant ants also have a strategy for survival—older ants are sent to face the dangers of the outside world while younger, stronger ants stay inside the nest to care for the brood. It's clear that ants exploit their elders to gather food at great risk, and eliminate those who become sick.
9. They Wreak Havoc on Electrical Equipment
Nothing instills fear quite like the name “crazy ant.” It might sound amusing, but the yellow and tawny varieties of these ants are truly terrifying. The yellow crazy ants made their way to Christmas Island, near Australia, where they quickly became a disastrous infestation. To this day, they remain a serious threat to the red crabs that migrate across the island.
Tawny crazy ants, also known as “Raspberry” ants after Tom Raspberry, are just as terrifying. Raspberry, an exterminator who first discovered these ants, has been advocating for government intervention in the Houston area, but has met with little success. Both species of crazy ants form “super-colonies” with multiple queens, which makes extermination nearly impossible. Even after they’re dead, piles of these ants have been found hidden in the crevices of homes and businesses. They can even kill animals. Their bizarre attraction to electricity has destroyed televisions, wiring, and various other electrical devices. It's no surprise they’re called crazy.
8. They Enslave Others
Slavery is universally recognized as immoral and inhumane, but did you know that even insects partake in it? Some ants, known as “slave makers,” possess large jaws designed for battle rather than feeding. As a result, they can't feed themselves. These ants will invade other colonies, abduct newborn ants from the queen, and raise them to serve as their workers. Despite their limited vision and reliance on scent for communication, these ants are clever enough to have others feed them while they lounge around.
As dreadful as this practice may seem, the ants whose colonies are being raided can be just as terrifying. For the raiding ants to succeed, they must imitate the colony's unique smell. If they fail, the resident ants will quickly detect the intruder and launch a brutal defense. The defending ants will swarm the intruder, sting it, paralyze it, and then rip it apart using their powerful jaws.
7. They Set Traps and Slice Their Victims
A species of ant found in the Amazon has a disturbing skill: they can create booby traps for larger insects. These ants weave leaves into a net with sizable holes. Once their prey steps into the holes, the ants seize the insect’s limbs with their jaws and hold it captive.
Other ants quickly swarm in to sting the victim, ensuring it can't escape. Apparently, ripping off the insect’s limbs isn't enough. These ants are known to capture locusts and other prey that are many times their size. After chopping their catch into manageable pieces, the ants transport their spoils back to the colony for a feast.
6. They Steal Our Heat
While most ants perish in colder temperatures, Pharaoh ants have discovered a way to survive the winter. Why endure the freezing cold outside when humans have cozy heating and ventilation systems? These ants are infamous for invading heating units and settling in various cracks and crevices inside homes.
Some of the ants we've discussed form “super-colonies” with multiple queens, but Pharaoh ants take it a step further—they can relocate an entire colony if their nest is compromised. These ants are capable of causing chaos in public spaces, such as hospitals, by contaminating medical tools and surgical areas. While these ants are certainly resourceful in using artificial heat to their advantage, there's no doubt that they are pure evil.
5. Fire Ants Bring Down Deer
Among all the vicious ants in the world, fire ants are arguably the worst. Anyone unfortunate enough to disturb a fire ant nest will feel the full wrath of these creatures. Fire ants attack with fury, and their ability to climb vertical surfaces quickly means stepping on their nest can leave you literally with ants in your pants. Their sting is excruciating, often causing a white bump on the skin. In rare instances, fire ant stings can be fatal or induce shock, but more often than not, they simply leave a person sore and in misery.
However, animal victims of fire ants aren’t as fortunate. Wild creatures such as birds, lizards, and even deer have been fatally stung by these aggressive ants. Efforts have been made to control their population and protect the animals they target, but the sheer number and widespread presence of fire ants make their populations incredibly hard to manage.
4. Army Ants Terrify Elephants
Army ants are some of the most feared ants in the world. Found in rain forest regions of South America and Africa, these ants do not establish permanent colonies like most other ants. Instead, they build temporary nests by linking their bodies together to form a protective shelter for the queen while she lays eggs. Once the larvae are ready to move, the ants go on a destructive march, fanning out in a line that devours everything in its path. With their powerful mandibles, army ants can literally tear through flesh.
Individually, ants are harmless, but in massive swarms, they can overpower prey hundreds of times larger than themselves. These ants have been responsible for the deaths of large animals and even humans. The mighty elephant, one of the largest land mammals, has been known to retreat from the onslaught of army ants. Some African tribes deal with these invaders by dousing their front lines with gasoline or kerosene and setting them ablaze. While this tactic may confuse the ants further down the line, it doesn’t eradicate them entirely. In the end, the best solution is often just to flee as quickly as possible.
3. Carpenter Ants Destroy Homes
The carpenter ant, likely the most common household pest, lives up to its name by showing a particular fondness for wood. These ants can be found in any wooden structure, and since most homes are built with wood, carpenter ants can quickly become a major headache for homeowners. Like termites, these ants burrow into wood, causing significant damage to the structure of the home.
The only surefire way to eliminate these ants is by finding their nest, but this task is definitely easier said than done. One method involves feeding a few stray ants and tracking them back to their home, though this can quickly become tedious. Another approach is to inspect wood that may be damp, such as window or door frames, or spaces behind appliances. A light tap on the wood might reveal a crackling or hollow sound. Even if the nest is located, the next step involves further damaging the walls by drilling holes to inject insecticide into the nest. Carpenter ants are difficult to locate and even harder to eliminate, making them undeniably sinister.
2. Leaf-Cutter Ants Cultivate Their Own Food
Due to costly relabeling procedures, pesticides are no longer available, making leaf-cutter ants especially difficult to control in the United States. Fortunately, these ants are not carnivores, but they do pose a threat to gardens and landscaping, as they strip leaves from plants. Leaf-cutter ants are hoarders and carry the cut leaves back to their nests, where they let them decompose, feeding fungus that serves as food for the entire colony.
The distinct design of leaf-cutter nests can cause significant damage to lawns, causing parts to sink or creating large mounds that inhibit the growth of plants. If these ants manage to burrow beneath a house’s foundation, they could cause cracks in the cement, potentially compromising the structure. Leaf-cutter ants seem to have a particular fondness for red flowers and highly fragrant plants, so it’s wise to keep them away from homes or gardens.
1. Ghost Ants Can Devastate Entire Ecosystems
Similar to Pharaoh ants, ghost ants can establish large colonies with multiple queens, making them challenging to eradicate. Their primary harmful trait is their ability to disrupt, or even destroy, entire ecosystems. Known for their exceptional foraging skills, ghost ants can displace other creatures from their habitats or decimate entire plant populations.
Known for their eerie, translucent exoskeletons, these small ants are notorious for infiltrating human homes and food supplies. They have a particular fondness for bags of potato chips, which can be quite unpleasant for anyone unlucky enough to open one. Another troubling habit of this species is nesting in flowerpots or under objects left on the lawn, making for an unpleasant surprise during yard work.
