Crazy ants are small, reddish-brown ants that grow to about ⅛ an inch long. They have six legs and a pair of antennae. Although it’s difficult to see with the naked eye, crazy ants’ bodies are covered in tiny hairs, but their heads are bare.
Crazy ants get their name from the way they move around. Unlike most ants that walk in straight lines, crazy ants make quick, erratic movements that appear random or zigzagged.
Crazy ants are omnivores that eat a wide variety of foods. Insects, worms, grubs, and spiders are some of their primary food sources. They also eat honeydew, fruits, seeds, and almost any food you can find right in your kitchen.
Although they’re not a significant threat to humans, crazy ants negatively affect agriculture. They sometimes nest in crops, which can cause damage. They like the nectar in plants but are not pollinators, so they rob them of nectar without providing any reciprocal benefit. Furthermore, because of their large colonies, crazy ants also disrupt native insects and bugs, causing an imbalance that can lead to agricultural problems down the line.
Crazy ants are more of a nuisance than a danger, but they pose a couple of threats to your home and family when they enter your house. First, they can bite if they feel that they’re in danger. These bites are usually only mildly painful or itchy, and they shouldn’t cause any long-term problems as long as you ensure the area doesn’t become infected.
The more significant problem with crazy ants is their penchant for gathering around electrical equipment. When they do so, they can chew through the insulation around wires, causing short circuits, malfunctioning equipment, or even fires. Because of this, a crazy ant infestation in your home can be problematic and harmful to your wallet and safety.
The primary reason why crazy ants are attracted to electrical equipment is because it provides them with a warm, secluded area where they can build their nests. Ironically enough, if a crazy ant is around electrical equipment and accidentally electrocutes itself, it will release a pheromone that attracts other crazy ants to the area, which only compounds the problem.
Although they may seek out electrical equipment to nest in once inside your house, crazy ants are usually attracted to your home for other reasons. The most common reason that crazy ants get into homes in The Woodlands is that they are looking for food. As they forage, they may find their way inside, and once they’re inside, they are likely to find a good food source in your home. They will then alert other crazy ants to let them know they’ve found a good place to find food.
Crazy ants may also find their way inside when the weather gets cooler. They can’t survive if it gets too cold, so they’ll seek shelter in a warm place.
Crazy ants nest in a variety of areas. They are adaptable insects that can survive in both humid and dry conditions. Outside, they often nest in soil, rotting trees, or under rocks. When they enter a structure, they’ll often nest inside wall voids or electrical equipment.
Seeing crazy ants in your house is the best way to identify an infestation. You can tell crazy ants apart from other ants because of their erratic, zigzag patterns.
If your electrical equipment malfunctions, it may also be a sign of a crazy ant infestation.
Call Marathon Pest Control if you've spotted crazy ants infesting your property. Our local pest control company has been helping property owners exterminate ants since 2016; you can rely on us to take care of your infestation!
Keeping crazy ants out of your house begins with sealing the entry points they might use to get inside. Because of their tiny size, it’s not always easy to find every opening they might exploit, but even sealing just the ones you see can make a difference.
Trim shrubs, plants, and other vegetation around the exterior of your home, and ensure that your kitchen is free of spills, crumbs, and other messes that might attract crazy ants to come indoors. Lessening attractants can help avoid an infestation.
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