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Tawny crazy ant on a white background - Keep ants away from your home with City Termite & Pest Control in Malvern, AR

Tawny Crazy Ant

Actual Size: ⅛”

Characteristics: A distinct golden-brown to reddish-brown color

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Males and females have wings, but seldom fly

Habitat: These resilient insects are known for their ability to thrive in diverse environments, from arid to moist conditions. They often establish their colonies in unconventional places such as within electronic devices, beneath floorboards, inside garbage bins, and even in motor vehicles’ engines, causing significant damage and disturbances.

Habits:

  • Sometimes called Rasberry crazy ants – reflecting their erratic and unpredictable movement patterns, which differ markedly from the orderly lines associated with other ant species.
  • Their chaotic behavior can be attributed to their long legs and the frantic nature of their exploration and foraging.


Tawny Crazy Ants in Central Arkansas

First identified in Texas in 2002, tawny crazy ants have since migrated to the Central Arkansas area. These ants are believed to be competitive enough to displace native fire ant populations. Unlike other ants that follow pheromone trails in straight lines, tawny crazy ants move in a seemingly disorganized fashion due to their unusually long legs. This can give them a distinctly erratic appearance. They pose a threat to local ecosystems by damaging plant life, displacing other insect species, and wreaking havoc on electrical equipment, thus impacting both urban and rural settings.

Tawny Crazy Ant Habitat

Tawny crazy ants typically build large nests in locations that retain moisture. They exploit any available nook or cranny for their nests, which are often found amid leaf litter, decaying logs, damp soil, and other secluded spots. While they generally nest outdoors, these ants are not averse to indoor environments, especially when on the hunt for food. Their diet is diverse, ranging from household meats and sweets to plant-sucking aphids, whose honeydew they consume. They are also known to hunt small live prey and scavenge dead animals.

Tawny Crazy Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

While these ants do bite, they lack a stinger, making their bites less threatening and the pain quite mild, dissipating quickly. However, their penchant for infiltrating homes in search of food leads them to electrical systems, where they can inflict severe damage. Tawny crazy ants are notorious for nesting in and destroying electronic devices like TVs, computers, and other appliances by chewing through insulation and wiring, thereby posing serious fire risks.

If a tawny crazy ant infestation is suspected, it is best to consult a professional ant exterminator.