ant
Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. More than 13,800 of an estimated total of 22 ...
of the genus ''
Nylanderia
''Nylanderia'' is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species inhabiting a wide array of habitats in almost all geographic regions. ''Nylanderia'', currently containing over 1 ...
'', commonly called the Caribbean crazy ant. It was originally described as ''Paratrechina pubens'' from Saint Vincent,
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles ( es, link=no, Antillas Menores; french: link=no, Petites Antilles; pap, Antias Menor; nl, Kleine Antillen) are a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Most of them are part of a long, partially volcanic island arc betwe ...
. This species was moved from ''
Paratrechina
''Paratrechina'' is one of seven ant Genus, genera (alongside ''Euprenolepis, Nylanderia, Paraparatrechina, Prenolepis, Pseudolasius,'' and ''Zatania'') in the Prenolepis genus-group, ''Prenolepis'' genus-group from the subfamily Formicinae (Trib ...
'' to the genus ''Nylanderia'' in 2010.
These ants are about one-eighth inch long and are covered with reddish-brown hairs. The colonies have multiple queens. An infestation of this species, or a related species named
''Nylanderia fulva'', is ongoing in and around Houston, Texas.Ants swarm over Houston area, fouling electronics retrieved 15 May 2008
Description
''Nyladeria pubens'' is included in a group called "crazy ants" due to the quick and erratic movements they make. It is a , monomorphic, reddish brown ant. Its antennae have 12 segments, and lack clubs. The antennal scape is nearly twice as large as the head. Its bite is not known to sting.
See also
;Similar ants
* ''
Nylanderia fulva
''Nylanderia'' is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species inhabiting a wide array of habitats in almost all geographic regions. ''Nylanderia'', currently containing over 1 ...
National Pest Management Association
The National Pest Management Association (NPMA), is a non-profit trade association founded in 1933 that represents the interests of the professional pest management and pest control industries in the United States. Caribbean crazy ant on the UF /
IFAS IFAS may refer:
* Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
* Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge, a sewage treatment process
* International French adjectival system
In rock climbing, mountaineering, and other climbing disciplines, clim ...