Worker (note long antennae)

Workers and brood

Queen (arrow)

Over the last few years reports have escalated about a dark-brown to reddish-brown "crazy ant" infesting properties in many South Florida counties. Reports of this ant in Florida date back to the 1950s, but infestations were uncommon until the late 1990s.

Recently, Caribbean crazy ants have become a severe problem in South Florida. The name "crazy ants" refers to their quick erratic movements when disturbed. Thick foraging trails with thousands, even hundreds of thousands of these ants may occur along sidewalks, around buildings, and on trees and shrubs. They scavenge for food over great distances, feed on dead insects, tend honeydew producers on plants, and gather solid foods, such as seeds, fruits, garbage and practically any household food.

Control of this nuisance ant has been very difficult because of their huge reproductive capacity. Despite lacking the ability to sting or bite, crazy ants are among the worst nuisance insects in the state.

Nest Sites
Crazy ants have been observed emerging from soffits of houses, under objects on the ground such as landscaping timbers or rocks, wooden debris, underground electrical conduits, and cracks in cement. A plant nursery in Sarasota had nests under bags of landscaping sand and under potted plants. Each nest can have multiple queens.

Pest Management

• As their food availability is eliminated in homes, Crazy Ants will begin to disappear.

• Make sure all food is sealed in containers, and seal any existing foundation crevices and reduce entry points under doors with door sweeps.

• Additional ant prevention program steps should include the following:

  • Inspect your house by circling it and cutting away any plants that touch the structure.

  • Ants use plants as a bridge to enter homes.

  • Ants are also attracted to water, so drain your sink after washing the dishes.

• Also make sure to dry counter tops.

The University of Florida recommends use of an appropriately-labeled contact residual insecticide sprayed along active trails and nest sites to reduce ant populations, followed 3-4 days later by sweet ant bait stations placed at numerous sites along ant trails. Bait stations need to be replaced frequently. As with any pesticide, always follow label directions. It may take months to reduce the crazy ant problem to a tolerable level. Homeowners should consider hiring a pest management professional for large infestations.

Past Pest of the Month

Cogon Grass
Lawn Mole		Bees and Wasps Standard Operating Procedure
Lovebug		Root Breathing Mosquitoes and Aquatic Plants
Brazilian Pepper Tree		Bed Bug
Non-biting Midge		Widow Spiders
Red Fire Ant		Caribbean Crazy Ant