Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae. They form colonies that range in size from a few dozen predatory individuals living in small natural cavities to highly organized colonies that may occupy large territories and consist of millions of individuals.
Ants have a great ability to exploit human resources. They damage crops and invade buildings. Some species, such as the red imported fire ant, crazy ants are regarded as invasive species.
It has been reported in ABC news that the invasive 'crazy ants' were chewed up the electronics in the southeast US, and have caused $146.5 million in damage.
Research has shown that ants are capable of detecting electromagnetic fields. When an ant gets electrocuted, it releases a chemical which causes the other ants to rush over and search for attackers. Their attraction to electrical equipment can cause short circuit when they damage unit through insulation. Infestation of acrobat ants in an air conditioner unit caused damage upto $200.
It is also observed that ants build soil bridges (tunnels) in electrical equipments. The moisture content in the soil sometimes results short circuit and destruction of the electrical equipment.
In every part of the world, ants cause significant damage and heavy monetary losses.
In Georgia because of the power surge, various electronics like microwave, stove, fan etc. were damaged. The culprits for the power surge were found to be ants and the home owners has to bare a loss of total $2,200.
The red hordes ‘ants’ already have staked a claim to 63 million acres in Texas-a third of the state-causing at least $10 million in damage a year. The ants are moving westerly at about 15 miles a year, according to scientists, but so far have not gone farther north than the Texas-Oklahoma border, because they cannot survive the long, cold winters.
A news article has been reported in Mid-day newspaper on 24 june2013, Mumbai
Railways bugged by ants chewing wires in locals
The mystery of the malfunctioning display boards and public address systems inside trains has been solved: red ants have been chewing on wires in circuit boards, sending the whole system into disarray.
On the face of it, railway authorities appear to be making a mountain out of an anthill. But the mayhem ants have been causing in local trains -- which ferry lakhs of Mumbaikars everyday -- warrants a closer scrutiny of their claims.
In the past six months, the Western Railway (WR) authorities encountered cases where public address systems (PAS) and display boards inside locals and even the motor units responsible for running the train went for a toss for reasons unknown to them.
“We took these trains for inspection and found out that thousands of red ants were holed up inside the circuit boards, damaging them,” said a senior WR official on condition of anonymity. Officials claim that the itsy creatures had bitten off wiring and cables that supply low-powered electricity to PAS and display boards. Many ants had died after gnawing at the wires.
Due to this, the electrics of announcement system -- generally used by motormen or guards to address commuters in case of trouble or for announcing the next station -- and display boards -- showing next station’s name and other messages -- had got disconnected.
(Gl)itch in the coach
In one of the cases, ants had eaten into the cables and circuits affecting the motor coach, which led to an abrupt failure while it was running.
“We were surprised to see that red ants in large numbers had damaged the systems,” said Sandeep Silas, divisional railway manager, Mumbai, Western Railway.
Sources claim that initially around two to three trains were facing this problem. But in the last couple of months, one train was particularly affected by the menace. “These ants crawl up into the trains when they are parked at different stabling lines on the 60-km Churchgate-Virar route and inside yards, an official said.
Authorities have now started using repellants to tackle the menace.
Sources said officials are spraying insecticides on all the affected locals, and sweeping away the dead ants stuck in between intricate circuitry to avoid further operational disruptions.
Termirepel™ is the best solution to tackle this problem in the best possible way. It is non-toxic, non-hazardous and environmentally friendly aversive which repel termites and other insects including ants. Termirepel™ can be incorporated in wire and cables to protect them from ants and other insects. The shelf life of the product is 25-40 years and it is compatible with almost all the types of polymers. It is available in masterbatches and liquid form.
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