How to Get Rid of Crazy Ants (A Simple Guide)

Do you know what makes a regular ant infestation even worse?

Crazy ants! They’re fast, and they are clever.

These ants move erratically—especially in the face of danger—and catching them one by one is pretty much impossible. Simply put, crazy ants are harder to get rid of compared to other regular house ants. Dealing with them takes much more patience and careful planning than taking care of a normal ant infestation.

Thankfully, you can remove crazy ants by acting quickly, locating their nests, and using the right products to target the entire colony. Read on to effectively deal with these long-legged freaks and successfully get rid of them once and for all.

What Are Crazy Ants?

As their name implies, crazy ants showcase their signature erratic and wayward behavior while scavenging. Their ant trail is bizarrely scattered, with their colony scavengers moving around aimlessly.

This, frustratingly enough, makes them difficult targets for extermination.

Compared to other ant species, crazy ants have much longer legs and antennae. Adult crazy ants appear reddish brown to black in color. Their average length is 1/8 of an inch or 3mm, and their bodies are covered in coarse hair.

Crazy ants are sometimes referred to as Tawny or Raspberry Crazy Ants (due to their discovery in 2002 by Tom Raspberry, a Texas exterminator), and their black-bodied versions are called the Longhorn Crazy Ants.

Where Do Crazy Ants Live?

Unlike common garden ants, crazy ants don’t actually nest on mounds of soil. They establish their colonies under rocks, dead leaves and tree branches, compost, or garbage piles.

Crazy ants are classified as invasive insects. When cold weather comes, they invade nearby structures such as homes and buildings to re-establish their colonies inside a more comfortable habitat.

You may find that a single crazy ant colony is considerably small in size. Don’t be fooled, however, since these ants typically have clusters of colonies nearby, which comprise what is known as a super colony. Each super colony typically has about 15-20 queen ants, and each is capable of establishing a new colony nearby through a process called budding.

Read Also: How do you get rid of ant hills?

Inspecting For Crazy Ants

It is best that you act fast at the first sign of a crazy ant infestation.

These ants are known to be omnivorous and can target food products that you store at home. In fact, leaving dead insects inside your home unattended serves as an open invitation to crazy ants. These little guys will happily chomp on insect carcasses without so much as a second thought!

Crazy ants have also been known to inflict serious damage on various types of electrical equipment. As soon as you spot a couple of these crazies aimlessly wandering around your home, it’s imperative to identify, locate, and treat their nests as soon as possible.

It’s quite hard to track down the nesting sites of crazy ants since these insects are quite known for their reluctance to form trails. However, you can still manipulate these insects by baiting them with honey, maple syrup, or peanut butter.

Scavengers will easily pick up the scent, eventually encouraging the workers to form a trail from their nest toward the scavenging site. Follow this trail from inside your home to determine the entry points that need to be sealed.

What Do Crazy Ants Look Like?

Crazy ants are easily recognizable by their long legs and antennae, which are disproportionate to their small, oval-shaped bodies.

They are typically reddish-brown to black in color and measure about 1/8 inch or 3mm in length. One of their most distinctive features is the presence of coarse hairs covering their bodies, giving them a slightly fuzzy appearance.

Types of Crazy Ants

There are two main types of crazy ants that you can come across in the United States: Tawny Crazy Ants (also known as Raspberry Crazy Ants) and Longhorn Crazy Ants. Tawny Crazy Ants got their name from Tom Raspberry, a Texas exterminator who first discovered them in 2002. They are reddish-brown in color and are known for their ability to short out electrical equipment.

Longhorn Crazy Ants, on the other hand, have black bodies and are slightly larger than their Tawny counterparts. Both types of crazy ants exhibit the same erratic, unpredictable movement patterns and are considered invasive species because they will establish large, interconnected colonies.

Crazy Ant Treatment & Removal

As soon as their nests are located, you can then treat the trail and the colonies simultaneously. Use a non-repellent ant spray to prevent your targets from wandering off upon contact. Insecticidal chemicals stick to the bodies of the infected ants and pass it on to other individuals in the colony.

For better results, you can complement spray insecticide with dust treatment. Dust crevices, cracks, holes or gaps, corners, and all areas of your property suspected of ant activity.

How To Prevent Crazy Ants?

Now that you know that getting rid of crazy ants is a tedious task, it is best to consider preventive steps in order to avoid the recurrence of infestation in and around your home. As much as possible, maintain good housekeeping inside your home.

• Remove food sources and clean leftovers, spills, and smudges immediately.
• Wipe clean your kitchen sink and dining table every after use.
• Dust off spotted dead insects and dispose of your trash daily.

In your garden, make sure to also take the time to ensure everything is in order.

• Your grass and all types of vegetation are well-trimmed at all times.
• Rake off dead leaves and tree branches from your lawn
• Remove piled stones or lumber to eliminate possible nesting sites for crazy ants.

For severe cases of crazy ant infestation, it is best to call a trusted ant control company.

Final Thoughts

The best way to get rid of crazy ants involves identifying their nests, using the right treatment products, and implementing preventive measures. In most cases, you can effectively eliminate these crazy pests and keep them from re-infesting your home.

However, if you have a severe or repeat infestation, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional pest control service for assistance. They have stronger pesticides and ant killers to help remove them.