Paratrechina species near pubens

:"As of June 2008, the species assignment is uncertain. Please improve this article when more information is available and rename it if necessary."Taxobox
name = "Paratrechina" cf. "pubens"


status =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
familia = Formicidae
genus = "Paratrechina"
species =
binomial =
binomial_authority =
synonyms = The Crazy Rasberry ant or Rasberry Crazy ant is an invasive species of ant found near Houston, Texas.cite web
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3941545.ece
title=Billions of electronic-eating 'crazy Rasberry ants' invade Texas
first=Chris
last=Ayres
publisher=Times UK
date=2008-05-16] cite web
url=http://ant-maps.com/Crazy-Rasberry-ant.htm
title=Crazy Rasberry ant
publisher=Ant-maps.com
date=
accessdate=2008-05-18]

The species has been named "crazy" because of the ants' random, nonlinear movements, and "Rasberry" after the exterminator Tom Rasberry who first noticed they were a problem in 2002. Scientists believe they are related to the Caribbean crazy ant. This ant has yet to be identified to species due to confusion regarding the taxonomy of the genus, and have for now named the species "Paratrechina" species near "pubens". [cite news | url=http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm | title=Caribbean Crazy Ant, Paratrechina sp. near pubens | work=Center for Urban & Structural Entomology - Texas A&M University - Department of Entomology | publisher=Texas A&M University | accessdate=2008-09-26] There is currently a large infestation in five counties around Houston, Texas. The ants appear to prefer the warmth and moistness of the coast. [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/us/16ants.html A Pest Without a Name, Becoming Known to Ever More] , "The New York Times", May 16, 2008]

Description

The ants are about 3 millimeters long (equivalent of one-eighth inch) and are covered with reddish-brown hairs. The colonies have multiple queens. [ [http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm Exotic Texas Ant] , Center for Urban & Structural Entomology, Texas A&M University, Department of Entomology, retrieved 2008-05-15] They feed on ladybugs, fire ants and Attwater's prairie chicken hatchlings, as well as plants. They are able to out-compete fire ants because they reproduce faster. The ants are not attracted to ordinary ant baits, are not controlled by over-the-counter pesticides, [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080515/ap_on_re_us/texas_ants;_ylt=Amuuu3dPi58OpMzGIOMc2Kys0NUE Ants swarm over Houston area, fouling electronics] , "Yahoo News", 15 May 2008.] and are harder to fully exterminate because of the fact that their colonies have multiple queens. [ [http://www.slate.com/id/2191749/ Can Ants Eat Your Computer: Why the "crazy rasberry" ant infests electronic devices.] , "Slate", 20 May 2008.]

Attraction to Electrical Equipment

It is unclear why this species, like many varieties of ants, is attracted to electrical equipment, including computers and air conditioners. It may be that they sense the magnetic field that surrounds wires with electric current flowing through them. Or, they might prefer the heat byproduct of resistance in the wires. However, it could simply be that they are searching for food or a nesting location that is easy to defend.

Their infestation of electrical equipment can cause short circuits when they chew through insulation. Overheating and mechanical failures can also be caused by high numbers of dead workers in electrical devices. [ [http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsID=101522&pagtype=all Computers at risk from Crazy Raspberry " [sic] " ants] , "Techworld", 16 May 2008]

Range

The coverage rate of the ant itself is about 800 meters (about ½ US mile) per year. However, being carried by people, animals, and vehicles, the Crazy Raspberry Ant has covered five counties in Texas from 2002 to 2007. This yields a rate of 8 kilometers (about 5 US miles) per year. At this accelerated rate, it would take about 70 years for them to reach New Orleans, 563 kilometers (or 350 US miles) away.

Control

In June 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency granted temporary approval for the use of fipronil to control this ant. The pesticide is already used for termite control. It's use is restricted to 7 counties in the Houston, Texas area. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5865964.html Pesticide for SE Texas 'crazy' ants approved by EPA] , Houston Chronicle, 2008-07-01, retrieved 2008-07-01]

References

External Links

* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=rasberry+ant Videos of the ants]