Longhorn Crazy Ant
Paratrechina longicornis
This record describes Paratrechina longicornis (species). Recorded family: Formicidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Bluish reflections are characteristic Host species for the ant cricket Myrmecophilus americanus
Identification notes
Bluish reflections are characteristic
Wikipedia reference for Paratrechina longicornis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longhorn_crazy_ant.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
- Superfamily
- Formicoidea
- Family
- Formicidae (Ants)
- Subfamily
- Formicinae
- Tribe
- Lasiini
- Genus
- Paratrechina
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
adventive and widespread across so. tier of US states (CA-TX-FL), with (indoor?) records as north to se. Canada [ map ] may be the world's most widespread ant species (Wetterer 2008); native to the Old World tropics (prob. originated from SE Asia or Melanesia)
Diet and Behavior
Life History
common in houses and seems peculiarly adapted to the interior and immediate vicinity of human habitations
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille 1802)
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Paratrechina longicornis. 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 Longhorn Crazy Ant (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn , v belov , metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Longhorn Crazy Ant
What is Longhorn Crazy Ant?
Longhorn Crazy Ant (Paratrechina longicornis) is a species in the family Formicidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How do you identify Longhorn Crazy Ant?
Bluish reflections are characteristic
Where is Longhorn Crazy Ant found?
Range: adventive and widespread across so. tier of US states (CA-TX-FL), with (indoor?) records as north to se. Canada [ map ] may be the world's most widespread ant species (Wetterer 2008); native to the Old World tropics (prob. originated from SE Asia or Melanesia)
What is the life cycle of a Longhorn Crazy Ant?
common in houses and seems peculiarly adapted to the interior and immediate vicinity of human habitations