Picture this: a disease-spreading, sharp-toothed ant that gets high off of electricity.
It sounds like a horror movie, right?
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has once again proved how terrifying earth’s natural bounty can truly be.
Dubbed the “Raspberry Crazy Ant” due to its jerky, erratic movement, this ferocious little insect has begun invading Britain in hordes, attacking cattle, spreading salmonella left and right, and even chewing its way through power lines.
The “Crazy Ants” are originally from South America and are an invasive species. According to The Guardian, the tropical ants likely made their way into the country via container ships.
Because the ants are highly intolerant to cold, they can’t live outside and have a preference for warm, protected spaces. They also have a predilection for electricity, and a tendency to cause short circuits, and in turn, start fires.
For the 18% of the United States that uses underground power lines, this would be terrible news.
Back in the UK, however, pest control experts are remaining diligent, working to assess at-risk areas and structures.
The ants swarm in large colonies, and tend to nestle in the cracks in walls. Because of this, experts are warning hotels, guest houses, and other high-occupancy locations to be wary.
According to The Mirror, the “Crazy Ants” aren’t the first treacherous ant colony to take what they call a “world tour.”
There’s the “Ghost” ant — which, like a stink bug, emits a putrid odor when squashed. There’s also the “pharaoh,” that invades large, heated buildings in terrifyingly large hordes.
Just as they would be in a horror story, Britain’s population is terrified. But The Guardian claims that there is nothing to worry about. Lucy Jones reports that the previously mentioned “pharaoh” ant has run rampant for years, and has yet to spread any disease or cause widespread damage.
Nevertheless, the invasion of the “Crazy Ants” serves as a reminder to be diligent about invasive species and preventing their spread from one country to the next.