Wednesday, July 01, 2009

Ant mega-colony takes over world



Scientists have discovered that a single mega-colony of ants has colonized much of the world.

Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) living in vast numbers across Europe, the US and Japan belong to the same interrelated colony, and will refuse to fight one another. The colony may be the largest of its type ever known for any insect species, and could rival humans in the scale of its world domination.

Argentine ants were once native to South America. But people have unintentionally introduced the ants to all continents except Antarctica.

While ants are usually highly territorial, those living within each super-colony are tolerant of one another, even if they live tens or hundreds of miles.

Original article here.

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