Pesky Ants Becoming Zombies That Die Ants Turn Into Zombies Whose Heads Fall Off FORT WORTH, Texas -- Some researchers in Texas are trying an unusual approach to combat fire ants -- parasitic flies that turn the pesky insects into zombies whose heads fall off. "It's a tool. They're not going to completely wipe out the fire ant, but it's a way to control their population," said Scott Ludwig, an integrated pest management specialist with Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service in Overton, in East Texas. The tool is the tiny phorid fly, native to a region of South America where the fire ants in Texas originated. Researchers have learned that as many as 23 phorid species along with pathogens attack fire ants to keep their population and movements under control. So far, four phorid species have been introduced in Texas, where fire ants cost the economy about $1 billion annually by damaging circuit breakers and other electrical equipment, according to a Texas A&M study. They can also threaten young calves. The flies "dive-bomb" the fire ants and lay eggs, and then the maggot that hatches inside the ant eats away at the brain. Later, the ant gets up and starts wandering for about two weeks, said Rob Plowes, a research associate at the University of Texas at Austin. Although the ant exhibits zombie-like behavior, Plowes said he "wouldn't use the word 'control' to describe what is happening. There is no brain left in the ant, and the ant just starts wandering aimlessly." [The rest at the link.]

Thanks for posting, even though it made me cry. My DH graduated from high school and promptly joined the navy. He said it looked cleaner than other branches. He was in CA waiting to ship out when the war ended. His Mother told me she was so thankful, as her other son was already "over there". He is buried at Ft. Sam Houston. I had a cousin who was a spy during WWII. He was also with a group that liberated one of the Jewish camps. He once told me it was so horrible that he blanked the memories out for the rest of his life. When he was getting security clearance, some one went to his aunt's house in Vermont. She was hoarding sugar. When the maid told her it was the FBI, she thought that was what it was about. There has been a member of my family in the military in every war, including this one. My granddaughter went to the middle east in 2006 and my GS is probably over there now. Another proud American

Unless you just use a common widespread plant (probably annual), there's not going to be much of anything in common. There's very little that grows in Colorado that will be happy with the heat and drought of Texas and California. One that I've seen used something like this (and low cost) is coreopsis tinctoria, which is an annual, but tends to reseed vigorously in a suitable (semi-moist) habitat.

Hey Janet - BEAUTIFUL pool. I'm glad to see it came in just right for you guys. I'm also in Cypress. Actually, our home is up closer to Tomball (2920 and Cypress Rosehill area), but my law firm is near Jones and Grant. I just had my FIRST meeting with a PB tonight, and we're excited, but COMPLETELY overwhelmed. Do you mind giving me the full name of your PB? If you had a really good experience, I'd love to speak to them and get a bid. I'd to get at least 4 or 5 bids before I pick a PB. My wife and I have an interesting situation in that we have a LOT of room in the back yard (we are on 4/5 acre lot in the forest), but we have two massive trees that we want to work around AND build an appx 800 sq foot outdoor living room/kitchen/bar. We need JUST the right PB to make our pool integrate with our house, our lot, and our forest. We really want to do this right, and it looks like your PB did a great job! (Although I'm very impressed at your design work!)