An invasive ant species, nicknamed the ManhattAnt, has become a prevalent sight across New York City. Originally hailing from Europe, these ants have rapidly evolved to adapt to their new urban environment.
First identified in the city around 2011, the ManhattAnt population has grown at an alarming rate, becoming one of the most common ant species in the area.
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According to experts, these ants are expanding their territory by approximately one mile every year. If this trend continues, they could potentially spread as far north as Maine and as far south as Georgia.
Their expansion is aided during the summer, the ants’ annual mating season, when they briefly sprout wings and can fly short distances. This behavior further facilitates their spread across the city and beyond.
While the rapid proliferation of ManhattAnts is clear, scientists are still working to understand the potential ecological impact of their presence. Ongoing research aims to determine what threats these ants may pose to native insect species and local plant life.
JACK ALYMER: NEW YORK CITY HAS A PEST PROBLEM – NO, NOT THAT ONE.
THINK SMALLER – AND ALSO BIGGER- BECAUSE THIS THREAT COULD SPREAD UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST.
THEY’VE BEEN NICKNAMED MANHATT-ANTS.
AN INVASIVE SPECIES, LIVING IN THE BIG APPLE. IT ORIGINATED IN EUROPE BUT HAS SINCE EVOLVED.
THESE CRITTERS WERE FIRST NOTICED IN NEW YORK AROUND 20-11-
AND SINCE THEN THEIR POPULATION HAS GROWN AT AN EXPONENTIAL RATE.
THEY’VE BECOME ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ANT SPECIES IN THE CITY-
EXPANDING THEIR TERRITORY AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 MILE EVERY YEAR.
EXPERTS PREDICT THEY COULD EVENTUALLY MAKE THEIR WAY AS FAR NORTH AS MAINE AND AS FAR SOUTH AS GEORGIA.
THEIR SPREAD ALSO INTENSIFIES DURING THE BUGS’ ANNUAL MATING SEASON IN THE SUMMER WHEN THEY BRIEFLY SPROUT WINGS-
ALLOWING THEM TO FLY SHORT DISTANCES.
AS THE RAPID EXPANSION OF THE MANHATT-ANT CONTINUES-
SCIENTISTS ARE STILL RESEARCHING THESE BUGS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT DANGERS THEY COULD POSE TO NATIVE INSECT SPECIES OR OTHER PLANTS.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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