Hairy Crazy Ants Invade the Country

Friday, 7th October 2011

When you think of the word “ant” you are likely imagining a carpenter ant: large, smooth, black ants which have been in the US for as long as any of us can remember. However, a new variety of ant recently found its way to American soil.

Currently found in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida, the hairy crazy ant is faster and more vicious than its native cousins, and removing colonies of the ants is proving incredibly difficult for pest control companies throughout the areas. When these ants colonize, they can take over a yard in a matter of days, with populations becoming dense enough and aggressive enough to overtake homes and industrial plants, where they can short-circuit electrical wiring. When this happens, however, things just get worse for the property, as an electrocuted hairy crazy ant sends a chemical signal which attracts more of the ants and encourages them to reproduce. The result is an ant which can inhabit an area with extreme density, and which returns in greater numbers when a part of the colony is killed.

So far, the crazy ant population, native to South America, has only been spotted in the southern states. However, transporting material from these states runs the risk of introducing a colony to other territories. If you suspect crazy ants anywhere in your home or place of business, call a pest control expert immediately.

-The Connor’s News Team

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