A gift should be an enjoyable experience, right? That’s certainly not the case with tawny crazy ants. Also known as the Rasberry ant, this is one of the most intrusive and difficult to deal with species on the planet. In 2002, exterminator Tom Rasberry noticed this ant became very prolific in Texas, and he had some trouble identifying it as a known species. Perhaps that was because it didn’t actually belong in Texas. Instead, it started in rural South America and slowly moved its way here.
Is It Actually Crazy?
There’s a reason these ants are called crazy. They make quick, erratic movements, and to the untrained observer, one would think it’s a bit disorganized. In fact, even the foraging methods of this ant are quite chaotic. Add that to the fact that, the ant is harder to kill since it’s not attracted to any known ant baits. And, most pesticides just don’t affect it. This makes it a real issue on your hands.
Understanding the Craziness
Tawny crazy ants are about 1/8th of an inch long, has long antennae and reddish brown legs. This ant is an omnivore and will consume most proteins and anything that is sweet. It’s different from most other species of ants since, unlike other ants, it doesn’t have a stinging mechanism for protection. Instead it gives off a chemical compound that protects it from other insects. Their colonies have multiple queens for egg laying. And, these queens are able to reproduce abundantly and with ease, which keeps their colony strong and makes it harder to kill. They build their nests in stumps, rocks, potted plants, damp soil, garbage and any under or in any other location that remains moist.
While prevention techniques such as keeping your home clean and sealing off entry ways work quite well with other species of ants, they do not seem to work too well with tawny crazy ants so homeowners have little hope in attempting to control this species of ant on their own. If you believe you’re infested, it’s time to give us at Slug-A-Bug a call.