Just when you thought you heard it all – here comes the crazy ant. Crazy ants have progressively invaded the Louisiana area since they were identified in Texas in 2002. Over time they have spread quickly and have been very difficult to eradicate. A crazy ant runs erratically with no sense of direction. Be sure to continue reading for a better understanding of these insects and what you can do to prevent them.
Trailing Habits
Crazy ants don’t travel in a straight line like fire ants who follow a pheromone trail. They move without organization when foraging away from the colony. This quick, unpredictable pattern is what gives them the name “Crazy Ant.”
Appearance
These ants are identified as Nylanderia fulva and are reddish dark brown to black in color. Their antennae have 12 segments without a club and are very elongated. They are approximately 2.2 mm to 3.2 mm in length. The body of a crazy ant is scattered with long, coarse hairs. Although these ants have no stinger, they may bite and curve their bodies to deposit venom.
More Aggressive Than Fire Ants
Crazy ants are very aggressive towards predators and they are larger in size than fire ants. They can overtake fire ant colonies as well as small animals like birds and snakes. They will eliminate any species in their territory in order to control an area. These species are also known to have a bad reputation of damaging electrical and computer equipment and can severely damage your car. It’s estimated that every year, crazy ants cause more than $146 million in electrical damage. They’ve also caused many problems on industrial sites and inside homes.
Treatment of crazy ants
The treatment of this species of ant used to be a battle. When they started invading south Louisiana, our standard fire ant treatment products and methods of treatment were not very effective. Thankfully, we now have new products on the market that are strong enough to eliminate these ants, reducing infestation rates and repeat treatments. Even with these new treatments, it is important to be aware that this species is quickly spreading throughout south Louisiana since identified in Texas 17 years ago.
Things You Can Do To Prevent Them
- Remove any debris in the yard that an ant can hide under to nest. Also check under dog houses for ant colonies, near firewood stacks, or behind shrubs if you have an infestation and cannot locate the colony.
- Don’t leave food out for ants to feed on such as pet food or those delicious leftovers from a BBQ. Make sure you also close your trash can containing tossed food.
- Seal up entry points into your home such as plumbing lines and install door sweeps to prevent the entry of these insects into your home.
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Once you have confirmed Crazy Ant activity, you must act quickly and begin treatment before these insects damage your property or electrical equipment. We offer many Specialized Services for just about any kind of bug, including fire ants and crazy ants.
Do you have any insects that are giving you trouble or just have questions about these unwanted guests? Request an in-home estimate today and we will solve all of your bug problems! Please contact The Bug Man for all your pest control needs at (225)923-2847 or visit our Contact page.
