The Caribbean Crazy Ant is another name for Pheidole minutula.(P. minutula) It’s a species of ant native to the Dominican Republic and one of the most successful invasive species in the United States. Ants are not just pests in the Caribbean, they are invasive to our cherished islands. They came over on some plants. A close relative of the Crazy Ant is said to have been brought from South America to Central America and was believed to have arrived in north America via boat transportation of goods. These ants can cause major damage to a home’s structure, property and can create an environment conducive to spreading diseases. The Crazy Ant is not a true ant, but is actually in the same family or order as ants, along with some wasps and bees. They are commonly referred to as Crazy Ants because of their erratic and often bizarre behavior, such as travelling in loops or performing “searches” where a group of ants will march in one direction for a while, then turn around and march in the other direction for an equal distance. Ants are fascinating creatures. One of my favorite books growing up was The Ant Colony, which yielded some excellent life lessons that I still apply today. However, there is another breed of ants that has taken the world by storm, and their name is “crazy ants”. A highly organized species of ant was discovered on All Saints Island last year. Weirdly enough, this has been the only place these ants have been found in the Caribbean. More recently, scientists have discovered another island with a colony of these ants – Nevis.

Caribbean Crazy Ants

Introduction

Caribbean crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) are native to sub-Saharan Africa; however, they have become a common sight in the southern United States. They were first identified in the United States in 2002 after they were found in Houston, Texas. Caribbean crazy ants thrive in warm, humid climates and because of this have started appearing in the south of the United States and could spread as far north as Maine. Crazy ants are called crazy ants because they roam around rapidly in an erratic manner instead of marching in straight lines like most other ants do. Caribbean crazy ant colonies can be composed of up to 300 queens and female workers enter reproductive diapause when resources are scarce. This allows them to live longer than other ant species that are forced by their colonies to reproduce during hard times, which allows the colony to survive for a longer period of time if food becomes scarce. A reproductively dormant female will reproduce when her colony has sufficient resources available.

Caribbean crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) are native to sub-Saharan Africa.

Caribbean crazy ants are native to sub-Saharan Africa. First identified in the United States in 2002, they thrive in warm, humid climates and have started appearing in the south of the United States. While their range is expanding steadily northward, it is uncertain whether or not they will reach as far north as Maine.

The ants were first identified in the United States in 2002 after they were found in Houston, Texas.

The ant species was first identified in the United States in 2002 after they were found in Houston, Texas (1). The ants were initially named “crazy ants” because they would move erratically through a room rather than following a straight path. In Latin America, this behavior is known as “harassing” or “chasing.” A lot of people call them crazy for other reasons too, but that’s a different story…

These ants are now found throughout much of the southeastern United States and have been spotted as far northward as Maryland and Virginia (2). Their colonies live underground where they build small tunnels used for nesting and food storage. These colony entrances are usually covered by dirt or debris so you may not notice them unless you happen to step on one or see some red ants around your home or office building (3)

The ants thrive in warm, humid climates so they have started appearing in the south of the United States and could spread as far north as Maine.

• The ants thrive in warm, humid climates.
• They have started appearing in the south of the United States and could spread as far north as Maine.
• The ants are native to sub-Saharan Africa

Crazy ants are called crazy ants because they roam around rapidly in an erratic manner instead of marching in straight lines like most other ants do.

The name of this species is derived from its erratic and unpredictable behavior. When they are disturbed, they tend to scatter in a crazed manner, instead of marching in straight lines like most other ants do. This is why some people call them crazy ants.

The name “crazy ants” has been used for more than 100 years, but only recently has the ant gotten any real attention from scientists who study insects. It was first described as an invasive species in 2002 by Dr. Alex Wild of the University of Texas at Austin when he noticed large numbers of these tiny creatures invading his kitchen every time he opened up a cabinet or drawer door!

Caribbean crazy ants live in colonies.

Caribbean crazy ants live in colonies. Colonies can be composed of hundreds (up to 300) queens, and thousands of workers. Female workers enter reproductive diapause when resources are scarce, which allows them to live longer than other ant species that are forced by their colonies to reproduce during hard times.

In addition to having multiple queens per colony, the Caribbean crazy ants have a very distinct caste system that is different from other ants found in North America:

• The queen is the largest member of the colony and can have as many as thirty larvae feeding off her body at any given time. She produces pheromones for her offspring so they know how to behave within their caste structure and where their role is within the colony structure.
• Workers perform all tasks related to finding food or building nests; they also care for brood (eggs or larvae). These tasks include foraging for food sources such as nectar from flowers or sap from plants—which makes these insects an invasive species because they prey on native species’ resources!

Colonies can be composed of up to 300 queens.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Caribbean crazy ants is that a single queen can live for over five years, laying up to 1,000 eggs per day. In this sense they are similar to worker honey bees or termites with no drones present in the colony. Like other species of ants, however, there is a hierarchy within the colonies: once a new generation begins to grow and mature it will eventually take over from its mother queen as she ages.

Female workers enter reproductive diapause when resources are scarce, which allows them to live longer than other ant species that are forced by their colonies to reproduce during hard times.

When food is scarce, female workers enter reproductive diapause to allow themselves to live longer than other ant species. They will reproduce when the colony has sufficient resources available and can ensure its survival for a longer period of time if food becomes scarce again. This trait makes them an excellent choice for pest control as they are able to survive on less food than most other ant species.

This allows the colony to survive for a longer period of time if food becomes scarce.

This allows the colony to survive for a longer period of time if food becomes scarce.

The ability to survive during times of famine is one thing, but other ants also have this skill. Ants in the subfamily Ponerinae are known as ambush ants because they hide in small crevices or under objects and wait for an insect to pass by before attacking it, much like how humans use traps. However, these ants also exhibit another survival strategy called trophallaxis: regurgitating food from their crops into each others’ mouths (kind of like taking turns eating food at a potluck). This allows them to share nutrients with other members when there aren’t many sources available; however, this behavior allows them to live through harsh conditions such as winter months when plants don’t grow or when prey becomes scarce

A reproductively dormant female will reproduce when her colony has sufficient resources available.

Reproductive diapause is a period of suspended development experienced by some animals, including humans. In this state, the animal’s reproductive system remains inactive until certain conditions are met and then the animal resumes its normal reproductive cycle.

This survival strategy has been observed in many species of insects, including ants and bees. It helps them conserve energy and resources during difficult times, such as food shortages or extreme temperatures. For example, female caribbean crazy ants will enter into a dormant phase if their colony does not have sufficient resources available for all of them to reproduce at once.

Caribbean crazy ants are very resilient against adverse conditions.

While there are several other ant species that can survive being frozen, boiled and even put in a vacuum, the Caribbean crazy ant is unique in its ability to survive exposure to radiation. In 2013, a study published by entomologists at North Carolina State University showed that Caribbean crazy ants were able to recover from exposure to 10 times more radiation than any other ant species tested before. The researchers found that the caribbean crazy ants exhibited this unparalleled resilience after being exposed to gamma rays from cesium-137 source.

Why do these ants have such an incredible ability? Most insects have structures called chitin which makes up their exoskeleton (external skeleton). Chitin is a polymer made up of glucose monomers linked together. When exposed to high levels of radiation, chitin breaks down into smaller pieces which helps them heal quickly and allows them access nutrients more easily than if their bodies were intact after exposure.

Conclusion

The Caribbean crazy ant is very resilient and adaptable, as well as a formidable competitor for resources. This makes them an invasive species to be reckoned with.