A fungus can fight back against tawny crazy ants, an invasive species that drives out native insects and small animals and is a real pain for homeowners.
The tawny crazy ant creates a formic acid as venom to protect itself from other ant species. The insects are able to spew the acid from their abdomen but are not poisonous, scientists said.
"Invasive tawny crazy ants are spreading wildly in the southern United States, but these problematic insects seem to have met their match in the form of a highly infectious fungal pathogen. Scientists are now using this naturally occurring fungus to combat crazy ant populations, with surprising success."
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