Lach, Lori, and Hoskin, Conrad (2015) Too much to lose: yellow crazy ants in the Wet Tropics. Wildlife Australia, 52. pp. 37-41.

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Abstract

[Extract] Australia's Wet Tropics rainforests pulse with life. Butterflies flit, spiders attend their glistening webs, skinks dart into the leaf litter, insects of myriad sizes and colours scurry. Quiet observation may be rewarded with a frog camouflaged in leaves or a praying mantis stalking prey.

Now picture walking into a rainforest invaded by yellow crazy ants. The ground and tree trunks still teem with life, but of just one species. The diversity seen is mainly in the prey carried by ants – spiders, beetles, earthworms, other ants. If an animal is too heavy, the ants eat it in place, seeking out moist tissues such as eyes to begin their formic acid assault. Quiet observation is nigh impossible because standing in one place too long will have you covered in the little beasts.

Item ID:	72395
Item Type:	Article (Non-Refereed Research)
ISSN:	0043-5481
Copyright Information:	© Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
Date Deposited:	14 Feb 2022 23:06
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410407 Wildlife and habitat management @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180602 Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments @ 100%
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