Tawny Crazy Ant
Nylanderia fulva
This record describes Nylanderia fulva (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
How to identify Nylanderia , crazy ant spp. - Alex Wild, Myrmecos Todd Staples, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture, suspects this to be a potentially serious agricultural pest. These ants show likelihood of being transported through movement of almost any infested container or material. Thus, movement of garbage, yard debris, bags or loads of compost, potted plants, bales of hay, can transport these ant colonies by truck, railroad, and airplane.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Lasiini
- Genus
- Nylanderia (Crazy Ants)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
se US (Brownsville to Miami) - Range Map - Joe A. MacGown, 2015 The Tawny crazy ant was first found in Texas (near Pasadena, a southeast Houston suburb) in 2002.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
colonies contain numerous queens
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: fulva (L). 'tawny'
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Nylanderia fulva. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Tawny Crazy Ant (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn; Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset , Chuck Entz , Graham M , ceiseman
Frequently Asked Questions About Tawny Crazy Ant
What is Tawny Crazy Ant?
Tawny Crazy Ant (Nylanderia fulva) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Tawny Crazy Ant?
Worker ants are all similar in size (they are monomorphic), with a body length of 1/8 inch.
How do you identify Tawny Crazy Ant?
How to identify Nylanderia , crazy ant spp. - Alex Wild, Myrmecos
Where is Tawny Crazy Ant found?
Range: se US (Brownsville to Miami) - Range Map - Joe A. MacGown, 2015 The Tawny crazy ant was first found in Texas (near Pasadena, a southeast Houston suburb) in 2002.
What is the life cycle of a Tawny Crazy Ant?
colonies contain numerous queens