Watch Out for Super Colonies of “Crazy Ants” in Disney World

We often worry about Florida.

EPCOT

We get the sense that the state has a death wish against us inhabitants. Hurricanes hit, the heat melts our faces off, scary, hairy bugs with venom run rampant, lizards and reptiles are everywhere — and why are parachuting spiders a thing? Now we’re adding ANOTHER creepy bug to the list!

According to Click Orlando, crazy ants are creating SUPER COLONIES all around Florida! Yes, we’re serious, they’re actually called crazy ants — tawny crazy ants to be specific.

Photo credit: Dr. Rudolf Scheffrahn via Click Orlando

These ants are called “tawny crazy ants” because of their reddish-brown color and how they sprint around “quickly and erratically.” These crazy ants are known for creating their super colonies, which are “communities with several queens and connected nests spread out over a large area.” These nests can be big problems for homeowners because they can be really difficult to get rid of.

If one of the nests in the super colony is killed off, it can be replaced if the original nest is still intact. (We would consider this another reason to call it a “super” colony.) According to Dr. Rudolf Scheffrahn, a professor of entomology (the study of bugs) at the University of Florida, “You can spray the infested area, but it doesn’t kill the colony.”

Photo credit: Dr. Rudolf Scheffrahn via Click Orlando

The ants are so populated that it has even been reported that the ground appears to be moving (GROSS). The ants are an invasive species that originated in Brazil before being introduced to Columbia in the mid-1900s. Later, they began appearing in places like Florida and Texas.

In Florida, they have been reported or confirmed in several counties!

©Click Orlando

Luckily, even though these crazy ants are annoying to have around your house (they can spoil recreational areas, cause power shortages, or damage expensive equipment), they don’t pose a significant threat. These ants don’t sting, and their bite is very mild. The one problem, though, is that many pest control companies may not want to deal with them.

The ants don’t seem to stick around long though. You may see them around your house for one to two years, and then they’re gone. “They’re probably in competition with other ants that take over their habitat — probably big-headed ants,” quipped Scheffrahn. Once they take over a “territory,” they leave shortly after.

©USDA ARS CMAVE

If you have tawny crazy ants in your area, you’re encouraged to do the following:

Eliminate food, water, and shelter that could encourage ants to seek out your property.
De-clutter and remove debris or other unneeded items from your property.
Establish regular trash removal.
If you have had pest control performed on your property, don’t hose ants off the pavement area, as this can also wash away the treatment. Instead, use a blower.
Prepare to pay for frequent pest control services.
Be careful about “self-treating,” as your efforts could counteract those of a professional pest control service. For example, spraying an insecticide over a bait could render the bait ineffective.

via IFAS Extension, University of Florida

These ants don’t seem to harm us, but they can certainly be a nuisance. If you’re traveling to Florida or live in Florida, be aware of these crazy ants in your area (and try not to take any for a ride back to your own home).

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