The invasive tawny crazy ant, first found in the Houston area a little over 10 years ago, is expanding its range. The ant has potential for profound effect on production agriculture, according to AgriLife Today.
“It’s not the ants themselves that are causing the damage to the ag crops. It’s the interaction they have with the aphids in protecting them and allowing their populations to grow to the point they damage the crop,” said Dr. Charles Allen, AgriLife Extension entomology program leader.
The small tawny-colored ant was formerly called the Rasberry crazy ant, named after pest management professional Tom Rasberry. It received the name “crazy” because they don’t trail like other ants, but dart erratically one way and then another, which is the first tip to identifying them.
Another trademark of the ant is its sudden appearance in huge populations. The ants have multiple nests and queen areas, similar to a super colony made up of a lot of smaller colonies.
“This ant is something that’s on the radar. It is not a problem in agricultural crops yet, but we know it’s out there and that it has the potential to cause damage,” Allen said.