Teh One Who Knocks
07-25-2014, 11:25 AM
By Andy Wells - The Daily Star
http://i.imgur.com/VOeOwuM.jpg
A huge nest of the insect pests was discovered in a London home last week, sparking fears that they are on the march throughout Britain.
The ants travel in swarms and are attracted to ELECTRICITY and can cause chaos by munching their way through wires and cables, starting fires in the process.
Britian's first colony of the creatures was found in Hidcote Manor, Gloucestershire in 2009, but the latest discovery shows they have travelled south – and they could now be setting up camp right across the south of the country.
In fact, more have also been found in Buckinghamshire and experts believe they could spread further afield – and cause chaos.
http://i.imgur.com/QMYpnqm.jpg
Jo Hodgkins, a wildlife and countryside adviser at the National Trust, said: "The problems with them are they seem to get attracted to electricity and they can take up residence in plug sockets and power sources, creating a fire hazard.
"They can easily establish themselves in somewhere like Britain and I would not be surprised if they colonised other areas.
"They are pretty tough little creatures."
The Gloucestershire colony was full of 35,000 ants and the insects form interconnected nests that spread over miles – meaning there may be more that lay undiscovered.
The latest sighting at a home in Hendon, London, saw tens of thousands of ants inside the homeowner's microwave and other electric equipment – as well as in their bedroom and garden.
Pest controllers Cleankill, who were called out to the home, described the latest find as a "wake up call".
A spokesman said: "Asian super ants form super colonies, sometimes consisting of tens of thousands of ants in interconnected nests.
"New satellite colonies are formed by 'budding' – ants leaving the 'home nest' and forming new colonies...
"Nests are found in leaf litter, under paving, and other stones, and around the base of trees."
The ants can also survive colder climates – so winter isn't going to be killing them off any time soon...
http://i.imgur.com/VOeOwuM.jpg
A huge nest of the insect pests was discovered in a London home last week, sparking fears that they are on the march throughout Britain.
The ants travel in swarms and are attracted to ELECTRICITY and can cause chaos by munching their way through wires and cables, starting fires in the process.
Britian's first colony of the creatures was found in Hidcote Manor, Gloucestershire in 2009, but the latest discovery shows they have travelled south – and they could now be setting up camp right across the south of the country.
In fact, more have also been found in Buckinghamshire and experts believe they could spread further afield – and cause chaos.
http://i.imgur.com/QMYpnqm.jpg
Jo Hodgkins, a wildlife and countryside adviser at the National Trust, said: "The problems with them are they seem to get attracted to electricity and they can take up residence in plug sockets and power sources, creating a fire hazard.
"They can easily establish themselves in somewhere like Britain and I would not be surprised if they colonised other areas.
"They are pretty tough little creatures."
The Gloucestershire colony was full of 35,000 ants and the insects form interconnected nests that spread over miles – meaning there may be more that lay undiscovered.
The latest sighting at a home in Hendon, London, saw tens of thousands of ants inside the homeowner's microwave and other electric equipment – as well as in their bedroom and garden.
Pest controllers Cleankill, who were called out to the home, described the latest find as a "wake up call".
A spokesman said: "Asian super ants form super colonies, sometimes consisting of tens of thousands of ants in interconnected nests.
"New satellite colonies are formed by 'budding' – ants leaving the 'home nest' and forming new colonies...
"Nests are found in leaf litter, under paving, and other stones, and around the base of trees."
The ants can also survive colder climates – so winter isn't going to be killing them off any time soon...