Home Invasion ! ! !

What you may or may not be able to see are millions of siafu, red flesh-eating ants, assaulting our house. These pictures were taken after the worst of the crisis had passed. There were a few minutes when we were stomping and jumping. They were thick on the back of the house and about to enter the kitchen window when a visiting student and Diana discovered them.


Netto, the student, risked being swarmed in taking a broom to the wall and spreading ash along the foundation, which turned them away. Another student, Fikiri, came later and used some insect repellent used for the maize all around our house. After that treatment, there was no sign of the ants within a few minutes.


The siafu (ref: Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull) "move" during the rainy season and will swarm anything in their path. Most are small "workers" which, although they will bite, are a third the size of what the locals call the "defenders!" The defenders have huge jaws and actually rear up on their four hind legs, standing stationary against any threat as the workers march past.


Check out what Wikipedia has to say on them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siafu.

They have been known to kill humans, but they also have a benefit to humanity.

(the Wikipedia link & image below added to the update by the editors John & Kim Williams)
(above image obtained from the Wikipedia website on siafu)

Just another day at Idigima Secondary School in Tanzania, Africa.

Much love & blessings to you,

Gary & Joanne