Trees overgrown with kudzu. By Anne Paine • THE TENNESSEAN • April 2, 2010

Sure, some species benefit from a warming planet, but they can be the annoying ones that sting, bite, or make you itch. Tennessee is among areas that are expected to see fire ants and other ills spread as the climate changes, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Others on the list of critters that would boom around the nation are deer ticks, along with the striped Asian tiger mosquito, which has a powerful bite. And poison ivy will grow more virulent. Some say it’s all hype intended to scare people. But Doug Inkley, senior scientist with the wildlife federation, said residents should prepare for more itching and pests if action isn’t taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and to protect native natural resources. “As the climate gets warmer, it becomes more hospitable to fire ants,” he said. “The projections for Tennessee indicate that the fire ant will expand its territory, probably across much of the state. “Poison ivy is likely to become more vigorous in growth and having more toxic oil that causes the rash.” Higher levels of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, have been shown in studies to result in the plants producing more of its irritant as well as to boost growth of many plants, according to the organization. Multiplying bark beetles could kill more trees, taking out forests that pull accumulating carbon dioxide from the air, according to the wildlife federation report called “They came from climate change!” It was released on April Fools’ Day and done in horror comic book style, but Inkley said the bottom line was no joke. …