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USA Today
30 minutes ago
- Health
- USA Today
Fire ants evolve into a fearsome hybrid: 'Anything can really happen'
Researchers thought colder temperatures and higher elevations could stop the march of invasive fire ants. Mother Nature had other ideas. Southern states familiar with an invasive, stinging ant are facing a new foe: A hybrid bug that combines the fierce red fire ant and the hardy black fire ant. Imported fire ants have spread from their native South America to the United States with help from accidental human transportation, a lack of predators and warming temperatures thanks to climate change – potentially bringing upper elevations in the Appalachians and colder Mid-Atlantic state areas into colonization danger. The invasive fire ants first hitched a boat ride to Alabama in 1918. Since then, they've marched into over a dozen states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Now, experts say two species of invasive fire ants found in the United States are crossbreeding, creating an even nastier and hardier bug. The USA TODAY Network investigated the emerging threat this spring. Here's what to know: What are imported fire ants? Fire ants are famous for forming into large balls of living matter during flooding events, allowing them to literally float down to new locations. After Tropical Storm Helene dropped record-levels of rain across much of western North Carolina last fall, that ability has officials especially worried about how the natural disaster might have helped the invasive species spread to new areas, said Joy Goforth, plant pest administrator with the state agriculture department. Their venom, similar to a bee's or wasp's, results in a painful, itchy pustule or blister on the skin. A very small portion of the population are hypersensitive to ant venom and can experience lethal allergic reactions, according to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project at Texas A&M. Even healthy individuals, however, may experience severe reactions such as anaphylactic shock if they suffer from a multiple stinging incident. Treatments for stings are limited, with Texas A&M recommending stings be treated as you would stings of other insects. Keep them clean and intact to avoid secondary infections. Considering a mature colony can include up to 400,000 worker ants, a queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day, and that there can be several colonies per acre of land, fire ants can sometimes seem like the perfect pest. "Right now, it just seems they are very adaptable, and that includes moving their nests further underground in the higher elevations where the temperatures are more constant year-round, to some degree outsmarting the environment," said Amy Michael, entomological programs manager with N.C. Agriculture. Where have fire ants spread? They've spread across every county of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and South Carolina. They've reached across most of North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas, and have infiltrated parts of Virginia, Oklahoma and New Mexico, according to national data. "While eradicating them would be the goal in a perfect world, we really are at the point now where we are trying to manage their impacts and their spread," Michael said. Hybrid fire ants are bad news Mother Nature has thrown a new wrinkle into the mix − a new hybrid ant that's a merger of the two invasive fire ant species that have reached U.S. shores. Dr. Scotty Yang, assistant professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, said hybridized fire ants are the result of interbreeding between red and black fire ants. The outcome is a fire ant that has the strength and ornery disposition of the fiercer red fire ant with the better tolerance of colder temperatures found in black fire ants. Yang said the hybrid ants have become the explorers and front guard for the fire ant invasion into colder and more northerly areas, becoming the dominant fire ant species in the upper elevations of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. And they are proving to be very successful, with a dozen Virginia counties added to that's state fire ant quarantine map just last year. Yang said viruses that impact "normal" fire ants also have less of an impact on the hybrids, making them less likely to forage and thus less likely to carry poisoned bait back to their mounds. "In some respect, the viruses help them survive," he said. Researchers are still trying to determine why the ants decided to crossbreed. "But once you introduce a species to a new place, anything can really happen," Yang said. Living with fire ants After more than 60 years in North Carolina, officials in the state stress that it's no longer a question of eradicating the invaders. Michael said several fire ant control measures are available at garden and home improvement shops that target different stages of the ants' and colony's development. The best strategy involves treatments that allow bait to be brought back into the mound, Michael said. Treating mounds when they appear quickly, especially those near concrete and brick walls where heat radiating from those materials allows the ants to stay active longer, also is important for good control. Michael told USA TODAY that North Carolina's agriculture officials continue to conduct surveys in the counties outside the current quarantine area. "Yes, they are very adaptable, and yes, they can spread pretty quickly," Michael said. "But there are tools out there that are available to residents and businesses to help try and mitigate the impacts and their spread." As fire ants spread, watch out for stinging Asian needle ants, too Fire ants sound bad enough, but another invasive ant species with an ominous name are also spreading through the country: stinging Asian needle ants. "Asian needle ants" are small and difficult to spot, blending in until they make themselves known with a sharp sting that has led to life-threatening anaphylactic shock in some cases. They've been recorded in about 20 states and are widespread along the East Coast, experts say. "Imagine somebody inserting a needle directly into your flesh," said Benoit Guénard, a professor of ecology and entomology at the University of Hong Kong who studied the ants in North Carolina. "It's a very sharp, acute pain but it's quite local." Read more about Asian needle ants here. Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@ or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY
Scoop
4 hours ago
- General
- Scoop
Factory Farming's Toll On Farmed Animals, Farmers And Food Security Exposed In New 'Climate Doom Loop' Report
Wednesday 25 June Governments are today (25 June) being urged to step up action to fix our broken food system as a new report released by Compassion in World Farming reveals, for the first time, the immense toll of climate crisis-linked extreme weather events on farmed animals, farmers' livelihoods and food security. Climate Doom Loop: Factory Farming's Toll on Animals, Farmers and Food is published just as policymakers from around the world meet at the Climate Change Conference in Bonn. This critical moment will shape the agenda for COP30 and ultimately influence whether industrial animal agriculture continues to be propped up by subsidies or phased out. To break the destructive loop, the report advises governments to substantially reduce livestock production, switch to more climate and nature-friendly farming practices, and ensure our food system aligns with planetary boundaries. From heatwaves in the UK to hurricanes in the US, flooding in Italy and Brazil and other extreme weather events across Europe, Asia and Africa, the report's case studies – just a snapshot of the bigger picture – reveal that 14.8 million farmed animals have been killed as a direct result and 56.4 million people impacted, at an estimated global cost of $120 billion per year. The report spotlights the suffering of farmed animals – many in cages who are left to drown in floods and suffocate in heatwaves when these increasingly common climate-linked disasters strike – whilst highlighting the major role industrial farming plays in driving climate change. Disasters outlined in the report include: Brazil, 2024: Catastrophic flooding led directly to the deaths of 1.2 million commercial poultry, over 14,000 beef cattle and 14,000 pigs. Vietnam, 2024: Over 5 million poultry, 44,000 cattle and thousands of pigs were killed by a typhoon. USA, 2024: An estimated 2-5 million chickens were killed by Hurricane Helene. Italy, 2023: Witnesses saw 'piles of hundreds of dead pigs', alongside other animals swimming for their lives, following flooding in Emilia-Romagna, the Italian region famous for Parma ham and Parmigiano cheese. France, 2023: 750,000 poultry died of suffocation and exhaustion during extreme heatwaves. Food systems are responsible for a third of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The livestock sector – dominated by factory farming – produces more direct GHG emissions than all the world's planes, trains and cars combined. But with a growing global population, 200 leading climate, food and agriculture scientists refute sustainable intensification as a solution for reducing animal agriculture emissions. Most (90%) believe that reducing meat consumption – particularly in the Global North – is the most effective action. Debbie Tripley, Global Director of Campaigns and Policy Advocacy, at Compassion in World Farming, said: 'Millions of farmed animals are killed each year by floods, storms and heatwaves driven by climate change, yet the very system they are reared in is making the situation worse. These increasingly common extreme weather events are also catastrophic for people, food security and farmers' livelihoods. Simply put, we're trapped in a doom loop. 'Governments must take urgent action to reduce emissions and livestock production as well as meat consumption in richer countries, whilst also establishing proper plans for climate resilience. Farmers must move away from cruel, unsustainable factory farming and towards responsible climate- and nature-friendly practices. Farmed animals, economies, and the food on our plates are all under serious threat – we must act now before it's too late.' Supporters are being asked to sign the petition calling for a sustainable food system that protects animals, people, and the planet.
13 hours ago
- Business
Home to North Carolina iconic attraction reopens after Hurricane Helene's devastation
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. -- An iconic tourist attraction in an area of western North Carolina among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene reopened to the public on Friday, nine months after the storm brought historic flooding, destruction and loss of life. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and other officials attended a reopening ceremony at Chimney Rock State Park, which is about 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) southeast of Asheville. The main portion of the park will now be open again from Fridays to Mondays to visitors who make reservations, Stein's office said. Stein also signed into law before the ceremony's crowd another state Helene recovery bill finalized by the General Assembly on Thursday that sends $700 million to the state's Helene relief fund and appropriates $500 million of that. And Stein announced a new tourism campaign to encourage travel and spending in the North Carolina mountains. 'Today's reopening is a huge achievement,' Stein told attendees. 'Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.' Last September's storm swept away the ornate stone and concrete bridge across the Broad River to reach the portion of the park that contains the 315-foot (96-meter) high geological formation that's shaped in keeping with the park's name. The park, which also features hiking trails and other amenities, usually attracts 400,000 people annually. A road had to be paved and a temporary bridge made from old railroad cars was laid over the river. The reopening provides needed encouragement to those in adjoining Chimney Rock Village, where a third of the hamlet's businesses were destroyed as river waters removed buildings from their foundations. 'It almost wiped us off the map,' village Mayor Peter O'Leary said on Friday. 'The village knew one thing that was of utmost importance to our survival. We had to have Chimney Rock State Park open again.' Some village businesses are reopening. Before Friday's bill signing, the General Assembly already had appropriated or reallocated more than $1.6 billion for Helene recovery. The new Helene law is the fifth relief package approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly since last fall. The Democratic governor said Friday that he's still seeking direct aid for small businesses and more funds for affordable housing. But he was still pleased with the legislature's action. 'We have a lot of work to do, but it's also good to take stock and recognize that today is a good day,' Stein said. The governor is also seeking more federal funds for Helene recovery beyond the billions already received by the state and by those harmed by the storm. State officials say the storm caused more than 100 deaths in North Carolina and generated roughly $60 billion in damages and needs.
Boston Globe
13 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Home to North Carolina iconic attraction reopens after Hurricane Helene's devastation
Advertisement 'Today's reopening is a huge achievement,' Stein told attendees. 'Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up A US flag flies half-staff on top of Chimney Rock mountain in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Oct. 2, 2024, in Chimney Rock Village, N.C. Mike Stewart/Associated Press Last September's storm swept away the ornate stone and concrete bridge across the Broad River to reach the portion of the park that contains the 315-foot (96-meter) high geological formation that's shaped in keeping with the park's name. The park, which also features hiking trails and other amenities, usually attracts 400,000 people annually. A road had to be paved and a temporary bridge made from old railroad cars was laid over the river. The reopening provides needed encouragement to those in adjoining Chimney Rock Village, where a third of the hamlet's businesses were destroyed as river waters removed buildings from their foundations. Advertisement 'It almost wiped us off the map,' village Mayor Peter O'Leary said on Friday. 'The village knew one thing that was of utmost importance to our survival. We had to have Chimney Rock State Park open again.' Some village businesses are reopening. Before Friday's bill signing, the General Assembly already had appropriated or reallocated more than $1.6 billion for Helene recovery. The new Helene law is the fifth relief package approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly since last fall. The Democratic governor said Friday that he's still seeking direct aid for small businesses and more funds for affordable housing. But he was still pleased with the legislature's action. 'We have a lot of work to do, but it's also good to take stock and recognize that today is a good day,' Stein said. The governor is also seeking more federal funds for Helene recovery beyond the billions already received by the state and by those harmed by the storm. State officials say the storm caused more than 100 deaths in North Carolina and generated roughly $60 billion in damages and needs.
San Francisco Chronicle
13 hours ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Home to North Carolina iconic attraction reopens after Hurricane Helene's devastation
CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. (AP) — An iconic tourist attraction in an area of western North Carolina among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene reopened to the public on Friday, nine months after the storm brought historic flooding, destruction and loss of life. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and other officials attended a reopening ceremony at Chimney Rock State Park, which is about 25 miles (40.2 kilometers) southeast of Asheville. The main portion of the park will now be open again from Fridays to Mondays to visitors who make reservations, Stein's office said. Stein also signed into law before the ceremony's crowd another state Helene recovery bill finalized by the General Assembly on Thursday that sends $700 million to the state's Helene relief fund and appropriates $500 million of that. And Stein announced a new tourism campaign to encourage travel and spending in the North Carolina mountains. 'Today's reopening is a huge achievement,' Stein told attendees. 'Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.' Last September's storm swept away the ornate stone and concrete bridge across the Broad River to reach the portion of the park that contains the 315-foot (96-meter) high geological formation that's shaped in keeping with the park's name. The park, which also features hiking trails and other amenities, usually attracts 400,000 people annually. A road had to be paved and a temporary bridge made from old railroad cars was laid over the river. The reopening provides needed encouragement to those in adjoining Chimney Rock Village, where a third of the hamlet's businesses were destroyed as river waters removed buildings from their foundations. 'It almost wiped us off the map,' village Mayor Peter O'Leary said on Friday. 'The village knew one thing that was of utmost importance to our survival. We had to have Chimney Rock State Park open again.' Some village businesses are reopening. Before Friday's bill signing, the General Assembly already had appropriated or reallocated more than $1.6 billion for Helene recovery. The new Helene law is the fifth relief package approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly since last fall. The Democratic governor said Friday that he's still seeking direct aid for small businesses and more funds for affordable housing. But he was still pleased with the legislature's action. 'We have a lot of work to do, but it's also good to take stock and recognize that today is a good day,' Stein said. The governor is also seeking more federal funds for Helene recovery beyond the billions already received by the state and by those harmed by the storm.
