Why Do I Have Crazy Ants & How Do I Get Rid of Them in Del Valle, TX?

Crazy ants first appeared in Texas in 2002 and have been spreading and are now found in at least 15 other States. Crazy ants are also called Rasberry ants after the exterminator that first discovered them as well as tawny ants due to their coloring. A-Tex Pest Management delve further into crazy ants below.

Crazy Ant Appearance & Behavior

Crazy ants are 1/8-inch long and reddish brown in color with tiny hairs on their bodies. Crazy ants have legs and antennae that are longer in proportion to their bodies when compared to other ants. They do bite but with very little venom, you’ll only feel a slight sting. They may be small in size, but colonies can number in the millions because they clone the queen and her mates, so they can mate at a faster rate. This can be problematic for wildlife and our property. They are so invasive that they can displace other ant species and affect birds and honeybees. These ants are known to crawl into televisions, appliances and other electronic devices. Industrial sites and residential areas can be negatively impacted by crazy ants because they can short-circuit electronics.

Are Crazy Ants Attracted to Electricity?

Scientists believe crazy ants seek out warm, confined, and protected spaces inside appliances, breaker boxes, and air-conditioning units to build nests. Some researchers think they might sense magnetic fields or small electrical currents produced by wires, though the exact reason they are attracted to electricity remains unproven. Their small size also makes it easy for crazy ants to nest in small cracks, crevices and other voids. Outside they can be found in soil that is damp, tree stumps, under rocks, compost, garbage and potted plants. Nests can be located far from a structure they have infested because they will travel far to look for food. Crazy ants are predators, foragers and scavengers. They will eat just about anything they find from proteins, sweets, grease and even other insects, dead or alive.

Crazy Ant Prevention & Control

The best way to avoid dealing with any ants is to prevent an infestation. Steps you can take to keep ants out of your home include: sealing any cracks and crevices that they will use to get inside, especially in the kitchen and other areas where food is prepped and stored, eliminate any sources of moisture from leaky pipes or broken sprinkler head, make sure food items are sealed tightly, clean up spills right away and take the trash out regularly. Little is known about crazy ants and because they are newer to the region, they can be more difficult to control.

Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas

Trying to take care of an infestation on your own will leave you frustrated. They will avoid many different treatments that are typically used for other ants. They just don’t seem to work for crazy ants. It’s imperative to contact professional pest control to take eliminate an infestation and prevent one in the future. Ants are a pain to deal with and with such large colonies, an infestation of crazy ants is more than a nuisance, it can be a big problem. If you’re dealing with ants or any other pests, call A-Tex Pest Management today!