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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Imported Fire Ant and Household Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #282693
Title: Raves & rants about invasive crazy ants

Author
item Oi, David

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/16/2012
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Crazy ants” is a name that refers to various species of ants that are characterized by erratic, scurrying, or running, behavior when disturbed. Two of these species, the yellow crazy ant and the Caribbean or Rasberry [sic] crazy ant, are invasive with extremely large populations that inundate landscapes. Yellow crazy ants have invaded many South Pacific islands and they have been found on Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge which is located about 825 miles southwest of Hawaii. An eradication project being conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service has recently reported significant reductions in yellow crazy ant populations and observed increased sea bird nesting. The Caribbean crazy ant has established in several regions throughout Florida. Ant bait evaluations on laboratory colonies of Caribbean crazy ants demonstrated consistent colony death with three commercially available baits. However, insect growth regulating baits did not reduce colony populations consistently. Genetic surveys of Caribbean crazy ants for pathogens that may be used for their biological control revealed three potential viruses.