Crazy Ants

They are called crazy ants because of their erratic behavior and frantic movements. Originally, they are from South Asia and fall under the category of invasive species of pests. In this article, we are going to talk about the appearance, behavior, diet, and habits of crazy ants, and finally, we will find out how we can prevent and deal with an ant infestation.

What Do These Ants Look Like?

The adult ants can be black or dark brown and be 3 mm long. Each ant has antennas that are unusually long. Their legs are also very long making them very different from other pests. From these features, you can easily recognize a crazy ant.

Diet, Habits and Behavior

This species can feed on other animals and plants, such as honeydew, fruits, seeds, plant secretions and a whole host of household foodstuff including liquids, grease, meats and sweets. That is why they can cause a lot of trouble if your house is infested with them.

Crazy ants can barely survive harsh weather conditions. When the cold season comes, they tend to infest houses and apartments for survival. But how can you locate them in winter? All you have to do is follow the workers while they are carrying food to their hidden colonies. In each small colony of these pests, you can find up to 2,500 members.

It’s a tougher job to deal with crazy ants than any other ant species. The reason is that these ants can be found indoors and outdoors. Aside from this, they can travel long distances in search of food, making it harder for you to locate their colonies. But it’s not impossible. With a bit of effort and some tips, you can easily locate them.

Reproduction

In each of their colony, you can find up to at least 8 queens. In big colonies, as many as 40 queens can be found. New colonies get established when a healthy fertile queen along with a few workers get separated from a big colony and set up their own colony. The process of starting a new colony is called budding.

Signs of an Infestation

How can you find out if your house or building is infested with crazy ants? This is easy. If you have seen some ants “running” around your house in search of food, you are in trouble, and you should look for ways to protect your house from the crazy insects.

Preventive Methods

The first thing you need to do is inspect your house properly if you suspect that crazy ants are around. Just make sure you don’t make it into your house. If they already have, make sure you get rid of their food sources. For instance, you can inspect your kitchen to make sure all food items are in tightly closed cans, and everything is clean.

The most effective thing to do is to get in touch with a pest management professional. They can give you advice and recommendations as to how to deal with an ant infestation. Although you can deal with an infestation in the initial stages, you will have to contact a professional once the problem gets out of hand.

Contact us today for a free consultation and we will be at your service.

Image: Erin Prado / © AntWeb.org / CC-BY-SA-3.0