The longhorned crazy ant, also known as the black crazy ant, is an invasive pest across much of the United States and may be the most widespread of any ant species in the world. Living in dispersed colonies and extremely adaptable, the longhorned crazy ant has been known to survive on ships, the tops of sky scrapers and in large numbers on farmland. With multiple queens, millions of colony members and workers that can range long distances from mobile nests, crazy ant infestations can represent a significant challenge to control.

Identification

The longhorned crazy ant is easy to identify due to both its erratic movements and its extremely long antennae. Unlike many other ants that appear to run along well-determined paths, a group of crazy ants will seem to dash erratically in every direction. The ants are generally small, with bodies approximately 1/8 of an inch, but have extremely long legs, and antennae that give them the look of longhorn cattle. Their bodies are covered in course hair-like structures called setae which can also help in identification.

Dangers

While the longhorned crazy ant does not possess a stinger, when threatened it bites and then curves its abdomen forward to deposit formic acid into the wound. More dangerous for humans however is their tendency to destroy electrical equipment. A crazy ant that wanders into a piece of electrical equipment may be electrocuted, at which time it secretes a chemical beacon to other ants. The others rush to the scene to help and are also electrocuted and release more of the chemical signals. Once enough ants have accumulated, the circuits may short out. It is estimated that crazy ants cause up to $176 million dollars worth of damage to electrical equipment each year.

Habits and Habitats

The crazy ant consumes both protein and plant matter during different phrases in its life cycle. Its wholesale destruction of local insect populations harms ecosystems and it is considered a significant agricultural pest because it helps to distribute and maintain populations of aphids, mealy bugs and scale insects that harm vegetation. Longhorned crazy ants are not restricted to certain climates because they easily inhabit human dwellings and have been spotted everywhere between Sweden and New Zealand. In the US, crazy ants are most often found in residences and warehouses across the East Coast and as far west as Texas.

Because crazy ants can range a great distance from their nests and adapt to dry environments, it may be difficult to track an infestation to its source. During the summer months, the ants tend to prefer a higher protein diet and may pass up more sugary food during this time, an important fact to consider when baiting to find their nests. Though their multiple queens can reproduce at any time during the year, in the Southern US, the longhorned crazy ant tends to reproduce between May and September.

Photo by April Nobile from www.AntWeb.org