There are over 12,000 species of ants found in the world, even if you have lived under a rack your whole life chances are you have met up with a few of these species. Throughout the Texas borders there are over a dozen commonly seen in homes, businesses, and the grounds. Today we at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control would like to expound on crazy ants.
What are Crazy Ants Attracted To
Crazy ants are known as many names in the industry; tawny crazy ants, raspberry ants, and hair crazy ants to name a few. No matter which name you choose, their infestations are of epic proportions because of their wildly invasive tactics and rapidly dense populations. They have a bizarre attraction to electrical systems and with their frantic and erratic movements, these ants are rightfully named. Crazy ants are responsible for an estimated $146 million a year in electrical damage. When they get electrocuted, because of their attraction to the electrical wiring, they will release an explosion of scented pheromones that result in another wave of crazy ants to rush what they believe is the battlefield where the ripple effect continues. Eventually, the deceased crazy ants piled up causes the entire electrical system to short out.
How Do You Identify a Crazy Ant?
Crazy ants have a few distinct characteristics that can help you identify them that include the following:
– Tiny ants that only measure about 1/8” in length.
– Color is a reddish-brown.
– Scattered on their bodies is long course hairs.
– Male and female both have wings; however, females will shed their wings after mating. Despite having capable wings they rarely fly.
– They have an acidopore, which is a small round terminal orifice that contains venom is surrounded by a ring of hairs.
– Though they do not have a stinger, their bites deliver the venom.
– Erratic and quick movement.
Where Do Crazy Ants Live & What Do They Eat?
Crazy ants are very adaptable and can live in both dry and moist climates. These ants live in tree cavities, plants, soil found under clutter or stones and yard clippings, as well as inside electrical equipment as they break away from the traditional mounds or nests that other species of ants construct for their colonies. Crazy ants will often seek refuge inside buildings when the weather changes as they cannot survive in cold climates. Each colony has a surprising number of queens even though the individual crazy ant colonies tend to be small. Quickly developing super colonies that rapidly multiply from a few thousand ants to millions of ants because of the number of queens, the small crazy ant colonies are misleading. Their random and rapid search for food can be a considerable distance away from home as these ants are omnivorous feeding on nearly anything from living and dead insects, honeydew, fruits, plant secretions, seeds and a number of household edibles including grease, meats, sweets, produce, and liquids.
Ant Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
Crazy ants can be a challenge to remove from your home or business especially before they manage to cause damage to electrical systems because of their habits and numbers. If you believe or home or business has a crazy ant infestation, contact A Five Star Termite & Pest Control today and let our experts do the rest.
