Parasitic Spiders

[Katinka]

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[Katinka]

ssssssssssssss

[Sadsack]

Just saw this, and have to wonder what new horrors this "remedy" will bring:

Parasitic Flies Turn Troublesome Fire Ants Into Wandering Zombies

Scientists may finally be on their way to controlling the pesky fire ants that have invaded the American South: They’re releasing swarms of parasitic flies that first turn the ants into zombies and then decapitate them. The non-native ants are at the top of scientists’ hit lists because they cause an estimated $1 billion in damage in Texas each year. The insects swarm on circuit breakers and other electrical equipment, damaging them severely. Swarms of the stinging insects can also severely injure humans and can kill smaller animals, such as calves and pets, that stumble across nests [Los Angeles Times].
Over the past ten years, Texas agricultural researchers have begun releasing several species of phorid flies, imported for this task from the South America. The flies “dive-b” the fire ants and lay eggs. The maggot that hatches inside the ant eats away at the brain, and the ant starts exhibiting what some might say is zombie-like behavior…. “There is no brain left in the ant, and the ant just starts wandering aimlessly. This wandering stage goes on for about two weeks” [Fort Worth Star-Telegram], says researcher Rob Plowes. Eventually the ant’s head falls off and the mature fly emerges, ready to lay its own eggs in a new round of ants.
Plowes explains that fire ants first emigrated from Argentina to Mobile, Alabama, in early 1930s, probably on an agricultural-produce boat, then began moving through Texas around 1950. “They’re still spreading,” Plowes said. There’s a “huge history of efforts to remove the ants, ranging from physical removal to pesticides and, most recently, biological control,” Plowes added [National Geographic News]. The phorid fly species imported thus far have only attacked ants around their mounds, but a new species set to be released this year will target ants on their foraging trails. The phorid flies have never been found to attack native ants, preferring to dine only on their South American hosts [Los Angeles Times].
While the flies aren’t expected to zombify every fire ant in the state of Texas, any reduction in numbers they can bring about will be greatly appreciated, researchers say. “It’s a tool — they’re not going to completely wipe out the fire ant, but it’s a way to control their population,” said Scott Ludwig, an integrated pest management specialist [Fort Worth Star-Telegram].

[weredIgo]

Hi Katinka and sadsak,
You are great researchers. That spider I killed last night was black with light and dark legs. It was a bit smaller than an eraser and had a oval round shape with a kind of squared protrusion on one end. My daughter in laws father came to visit some time back here in fla. went back to tenn. and gets a sore eye. He goes to the er and guess what came out of his eye? A whole bunch of baby spiders. hmmmm Just thought about that. Oh and that ant thing that SS posted, what are they thinking. You know we pay every time they introduce something not native into the enviorment. What a mess. What is to say these flies won't like PEOPLE.


Claudia

[Sadsack]

Weredigo -
I had that exact thought. The way we seem to attract everything else, how long before these things find us and turn us into zombies??
This is really scary.

SS

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by Sadsack

Weredigo -
I had that exact thought. The way we seem to attract everything else, how long before these things find us and turn us into zombies??
This is really scary.

SS

Whatcha mean how long before????

I feel like a zombie all too often.

Hey, remember that book I used to mention, "Parasite Rex"? A great book. It discussed this quite a bit and gave examples of how parasites take control of the host. This is why I thought whatever parasites we have are giving us brain fog and depression. I'd love to know the mechanism they use to do this. What do they take, change, turn on from the host, vitamins and nutrients? I don't think insects have those, but maybe they do. Do they inject some type of serum into the host that changes the protein? Inquiring minds want to know.

Kritts

[Sadsack]

Kritters -

In the case of the Wasps, they certainly do inject something that changes the behavior of the caterpillar. The caterpillar actually "tends" to the larvae once they are expelled from its body, weaving cacoons for them, etc, to the point of death from starvation for the caterpillar.
These flies, though, get into the brain and eat it until the head falls off.
Hmmm...which method do you prefer???

SS

[Kritters]

Originally Posted by Sadsack

Kritters -

In the case of the Wasps, they certainly do inject something that changes the behavior of the caterpillar. The caterpillar actually "tends" to the larvae once they are expelled from its body, weaving cacoons for them, etc, to the point of death from starvation for the caterpillar.
These flies, though, get into the brain and eat it until the head falls off.
Hmmm...which method do you prefer???

SS

Ewwwwwwwwww.......................