The Great Ant Invasion

The Great Ant Invasion:
Meet the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, a seemingly insignificant insect that has orchestrated one of the most significant invasions in history. These ants have established colossal supercolonies that stretch across the entire globe, showcasing their remarkable social organization and dominance in the ant realm.
Enabled by modern global shipping, these ants can traverse the Earth within days, leveraging our international trade networks as their personal highways. Their infiltration has rendered them the predominant ant species in California cities, displacing numerous native ant populations.
Exploring the fascinating phenomenon of shared chemical cues, we uncover how ants from diverse continents identify and cooperate with one another, forming a unified family unit. However, this unity comes at a cost, as these supercolonies outcompete native ant species, causing ecological havoc that seems insurmountable.
Through historical insights spanning two centuries, the video sheds light on the exponential growth of these supercolonies and their relentless expansion across the planet.
Join me as we unravel the captivating story of the Argentine ants and their unprecedented global conquest.