New breed of ‘Crazy Ants’ which nest everywhere and damage electrical systems are taking over southeastern United States



You certainly wouldn't want these ants in your pants.



A species of ants, nicknamed ' crazy ' by researchers because they are prone to sporadic movements has descended upon the Southeastern region of the country, particularly in coastal areas with warmer temperatures and has wreaked havoc on yards and homes.



'Crazy' ants are known scientifically as 'Nylanderia fulva' and are native to Argentina and Brazil, they are also referred to as 'rasberry' after the exterminator Tom Rasberry who discovered them in Houston in 2002.

The biggest factor to the spread of 'crazy' ants has been transportation via humans

The 'crazy' ants do not have such a painful sting as their insect counterparts, they are still a nuisance for homeowners.



Edward LeBrun, a researcher with the University of Texas at Austin, has studied the patterns of the ants which can 'go everywhere.' They can crawl into small compact spaces and even cause damage towards electrical equipment.



Interestingly, though, their presence seems to come at the expense of the far more common fire ant. It is unclear why the two species apparently cannot co-exist in the same habitat.

'Crazy' ants have been identified all the way from Texas to Mississippi. Researchers believe that the ants cannot survive in regions that are dry or cold.



Unlike fire ants, 'crazy' ants also do not spread as quickly. They can only advance approximately 200 meters per year on their own.



The biggest factor in their spread along the Southeast has been human transportation.

