Rasberry, we have a problem: Exterminator saves NASA from crazy ants

William Atkins
Friday, 16 May 2008 21:45

Science - Space

A few months ago the Johnson Space Center, one of NASA’s major space facilities, was forced to call Tom Rasberry after NASA officials found the ants inside their facility.

After controlling the JSC invasion, Rasberry said, “With the computer systems they have in there, it could devastate the facility. If these ants got into the facility in the numbers they have in other locations, well, it would be awful. I've been in this business for 32 years, and this is unlike anything I've ever seen. Anything. When you bring in entomologists from all over the U.S. and they're in shock and awe, that shows you what it's like." [Computerworld]

When news spread about the infestation at NASA, Frank Michel, spokesperson for Houston mayor Bill White, received a call from a Russian government official. Mr. Michel reported, “I got a call from Moscow wanting to know if NASA was safe.” He said, “I reassured the Russians we’re O.K..” [The New York Times]

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In the Houston Chronicle article “'Crazy' ants wreaking havoc in Houston-area households”, Mr. Rasberry is shown in a picture with the Crazy Rasberry ants crawling all over his arm while exterminating in Deer Park, Texas, another city near to Houston.

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The Center for Urban & Structural Entomology, Department of Entomology at the Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) have studied the ants. So far, the exact species of the ant has not been identified by scientists. They are being temporarily called “paratrechina sp. nr. pubens," or "paratrenicha species near pubens."

The common name used most often is the Caribbean crazy ant (for Paratrechina pubens). However, around the Houston area, the common name is often the crazy rasberry ant (for Paratrechina sp. nr. pubens).

Similar species of ants are found in the Southeast United States and the Caribbean.