Odd Ant Species Devours Electronic Equipment

When an exterminator from Texas, Tom Rasberry, laid his eyes on an insect species that he had never encountered, he could not help but to become mesmerized by the highly erratic movements that the ants made as a group when travelling. Rasberry had never seen ants move in this particular fashion. Raspberry named the newly discovered ant species the “Rasberry crazy ant.” The name is not too original, but at least it is refreshingly basic and straightforward.

After ten years of studying the strange ants, entomologists were finally able to give the ant its proper taxonomic moniker Nylanderia fulva. The official Latin name translates to “tawny crazy”. The crazy ants are currently marching across Texas, but they are taking their sweet time. The ant march is slow. A crazy ant can only travel six hundred and fifty feet annually.

Unfortunately, the crazy ants are not just objects of fascination among bug experts for their unique traveling formations, the crazy ants are also deeply attracted to electronic equipment, and when these ants find a source of electrical energy, they just cannot seem to help tearing it apart. Cell Phones, wall sockets, and just about any type of electrical machinery is viewed by the crazy ants as an opportunity for destruction and feasting. I have heard of invasive insects causing crop damage, but having to protect my TiVo from insects is a scenario that I could never have imagined.

Are there any other types of arthropods that demonstrate a sensitivity and/or primal attraction to electrical equipment?