Fire Ants Are Falling From The Sky And Attacking People In Their Sleep
Hawaii has a fire ant infestation, and people complain of the pests falling on top of them.
This article is more than 2 years old
Invasive species seem to be a trend in the last couple of years, with the latest victim being the island of Kauai, Hawaii in the United States which became infested with… fire ants? Sure it sounds like a nightmare or the beginning of The Last of Us, but the situation is very real for residents of the island. Per sources at Futurism, the tiny terrors have been infesting homes and even landing on residents in their sleep.
While the state’s residents are dealing with the problem one day at a time, many are fed up already. Fire ants can climb almost anywhere, and the ceiling is no exception. Many residents have reported waking up covered in bites, seeing the ants swarming and raining down around them like some biblical plague.
Most of the United States has had to deal with fire ants in some form or fashion throughout the years (Ashburne, GA even has a whole festival), but what’s causing the island to worry? Well, besides the obvious answer- fire ants hurt! They may be small, but the sting from these terrors causes pain and inflammation for those unfortunate enough to catch their ire, which is incredibly easy if one knows where to look.
Although fire ants have been spotted in the state for over twenty years now, it has never been at the level currently seen. The Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC) has begun to issue warnings for the locals, providing information on ways to get rid of the pests and resources to help detect or destroy any unwelcome bugs for residents. These resources are available to anyone. Though these are just basic things everyone around the state can do, they can greatly help curb the infestation and possibly save more islands.
The red menace is just the latest invasive species to give Americans nightmares, following the 2020s trend of “Let’s see how much worse it can get.” Washington Murder Hornets and Georgia Joro Spiders, which are unfortunately real creatures and not college football teams, have been popping up in record numbers. Locals around the country have become increasingly worried about the magnitude and speed these species spread, even more so with the fire ants.
According to researchers with KISC, the worst-case scenario is the ants reaching the local river and infesting Hawaii’s state park. KISC believes the fire ants will float down the river, holding hands as they make their merry way to the trees, using them to spread and colonize even further. This, in turn, further entrenches them into the local ecosystem, offering less chance for eradication as they begin to outnumber the island natives.
Fond of humid climates and good at sneaking around, this isn’t the first giant vacation fire ants have taken. The species has been spotted throughout the world in the last few decades, including Brisbane, Australia, and the Philippine Islands. Experts say the most likely mode of transportation is through trade and shipping routes. With their small size, they can go unnoticed in large shipping containers and other packages.
Hawaii and the island’s local government have assured residents they are doing all they can to stop the fire ants. Though it looks bleak at the moment, residents can (with proper protection) rest easy knowing it is being handled.
