A team of scientists from National Taiwan University has discovered that many ant species have learned to travel long distances using human transportation. Thus, invasive insects (coming from outside and threatening the local environment) take over new areas. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Ecological Entomology (EcoEntom).
The team noted that we are not talking about individual people who accidentally got into the vehicle. Experts have found that ants hitchhike throughout entire colonies.
Observations of insect behavior covered the period from 2017 to 2023. Nine ant species have been found to travel by car; seven of these are considered invasive where they are found.
The study examined factors such as time of year, weather, vehicle type, location, length of stay and number of ants to better understand the patterns that lead to the establishment of a successful hitchhiker ant colony.
Based on the collected data, scientists found that for successful journeys, ants need three factors: the ability to climb into a vehicle, the ability to withstand the heat of the car body, and the insects’ need to seek shelter. new colony.
Researchers suggest that the use of transport will contribute to the rapid spread of the most dangerous ant species to new regions.
Previous scientists warned About the increasing risk of global termite pest infestation.