But, mostly urban sprawl
Fire ants inflame more Floridians, sparked by global warming and urban sprawl
This kind of bites: Climate change is making fire ants an increasingly hot topic in Florida these days. But our efforts to tame them may only be scratching the surface.
Red imported fire ants rank among the world’s most invasive and destructive species. In America, they cause $8.75 billion in yearly economic damages, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. They chew on fruits, roots and stems, damaging crops. They swarm, harm and even kill newborn calves and stunt grazing. Their mounds damage mowers, balers, combines and other farm equipment, resulting in costly repairs and downtime.
On the home front, they nest in our air conditioners, sprinkler controls, utility boxes and traffic signals. They gnaw on all kinds of insulation that triggers short circuits, power outages and expensive repairs.
But mostly we know them for their brutal bites that bring pustules of intense itching that sometimes inflict infections, allergic reactions and in extremely rare cases, even death.
The two different types of fire ants were imported to Alabama in the early 1900s. Since then, since there are no natural predators, they’ve spread across the US South from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But, see, now
Mounting scientific evidence suggests problems with imported fire ants are getting worse.
Biologists warn that factors that have long made the Sunshine State a welcoming home to the invaders are accelerating.
Climate change is bringing warmer, wetter weather that favors fire ants. Florida’s urban sprawl also means more disturbed landscapes fire ants seek, with fewer natural predators, and more ants hitching rides in potted plants to new landscapes. Meanwhile, global-warming-fed floods float colonies of clung-together fire ants to new heights
How did they spread back when CO2 was below the safe level of 350ppm? Let’s be honest, this is more cult fearmongering, when the reality is that nothing stops the ants, Florida has been warm and wet with flooding and wetlands for a very, very long time, and all the construction and sprawl roots them up and moves them around.
Like many invasive species, fire ants arrived as stowaways. There are two imported species of fire ants, both introduced into the United States from South America at the port of Mobile, Alabama. The black imported fire ant arrived around 1918. The much more aggressive red fire ant showed up in the late 1930’s. Both ants likely came to the port in soil used as ballast in cargo ships.
Fire ants are easily transported in soil and nursery stock. That’s why all the fresh landscaping in new residential developments helps ants spread.
These Warmists are just so tedious.
[…] Pirates Cove warns of Cimate Change now with Fire Ants […]
The increasingly tedious Teach (Mr T) refuses to ignore global warming which he calls a hoax. Mr trump, to whom Mr T displays absolute devotion, has stopped all federal actions to slow warming! Mr T has won but won’t be happy until Dear Leader shuts down all talk about global warming!! To devotees such as Mr T, our Bill of Rights is really just a Bill of Suggestions.
As the Earth continues to warm, events/actions/situations, such as animals dependent upon warmer environs, will occur. Duh.
We humans, even conservatives, will have to adapt. And we will.
Mr T needs to relax. He’s won!! But he seems to want Big Donnie to “obliterate” the opposition, i.e., those who still recognize global warming.