Nylanderia pubens

Nylanderia pubens is a species of ant of the genus Nylanderia, commonly called the Caribbean crazy ant. It was originally described as Paratrechina pubens from Saint Vincent, Lesser Antilles. This species was moved from Paratrechina to the genus Nylanderia in 2010.[1]

Nylanderia pubens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Nylanderia
Species:
N. pubens
Binomial name
Nylanderia pubens
(Forel, 1893)

These ants are about one-eighth inch long and are covered with reddish-brown hairs. The colonies have multiple queens. An infestation of this species, or a related species named Nylanderia fulva,[2] is ongoing in and around Houston, Texas.[3]

Description

Nyladeria pubens is referred to a group called "crazy ants" due to the quick an erratic movements they create. It is 2.6 to 3 mm, monomorphic, reddish brown ant. Its antennae have 12 segments, and has a lack of a club. The antennal scape is nearly twice as large as the head. Its bite is not known to sting.

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See also
Similar ants

References
  1. LaPolla JS, Brady SG, Shattuck SO. (2010). "Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus-group of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Systematic Entomology 35 (1): 118-131.
  2. Gotzek, D.; Brady, S. N. G.; Kallal, R. J.; Lapolla, J. S. (2012). Moreau, Corrie S (ed.). "The Importance of Using Multiple Approaches for Identifying Emerging Invasive Species: The Case of the Rasberry Crazy Ant in the United States". PLoS ONE. 7 (9): e45314. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045314. PMC 3462614. PMID 23056657.
  3. Ants swarm over Houston area, fouling electronics, retrieved 15 May 2008


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