Islands of fire ants floating in Houston floodwaters

Amid the horrific devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, several islands of fire ants have been spotted floating on the rising floodwaters in Houston
Islands of venomous fire ant colonies spotted floating in rising floodwaters in Houston
Colonies of fire ants floating on rising floodwaters in Houston have been spotted
Photos and video shared to social media show the insects in formation together
Officials advise people to not to touch them, as their bites are painful and sting
One official said: 'If you are in a row boat, do not touch the ants with the oars since they can 'climb aboard' via the oars'
Amid the horrific devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, several islands of fire ants have been spotted floating on the rising floodwaters in Houston.
The fire ants, which are known for their painful bites and venom, appear to have perfected their survival skills by coming together to create a raft or a structure of some sort.
A study released in July from researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that fire ants are able to link their bodies together thanks to the sticky pads underneath their feet.
When they do unite, the moving ants from afar resemble a pile of dirt or wood chips.