South Carolina residents have banded together in response to the devastating flooding currently affecting the area — and so, apparently, has the state’s fire ant population. Islands of fire ants have been spotted floating through Dorchester County in South Carlonia, USA Today reported. In an effort to survive fire ants can link together to form these masses in under two minutes. They will then tip their “raft” into the water before they are completely submerged, and can survive this way for up to 12 days. Once the living raft hits land the ants will separate and leave the water. The queen is kept safe in the middle of the raft, while fire ant workers protect larvae and eggs by keeping them in their mouths. Entomologist Tim Davis warned residents to avoid the ants at all costs. “If one of those rafts comes in contact with you, or you try to break it apart, it will likely disperse and crawl up you,” he said.
Residents reported seeing similar ant masses during flooding that affected Texas in May.
