In 2009, we first discovered populations of Nylanderia fulva, the “tawny” crazy ant in Hancock County, Mississippi. By the following year, 2010, we had found it in at least 7 sites in Jackson County, MS. In 2012, we found this species in Harrison County. This exotic species is thought to be native to South America.
Since 2000, it has become widespread in Florida, having been reported from at least 27 counties, 27 counties in Texas, 16 parishes in Louisiana, one county in Alabama, and six counties in Georgia.
For the last few years, this ant has been called by a number of common names including the Caribbean crazy ant, Rasberry crazy ant, and the hairy crazy ant and by differrent scientific names as well such as Paratrechina sp. nr. pubens, Nylanderia sp. nr. pubens, N. sp. nr. fulva, etc.
However, specimens from the TX, LA, MS, AL, FL, and GA all appeared to be the same species, N. fulva, as mentioned by James Trager in his 1984 revision of the group. This was confirmed in a recent publication http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0045314. To avoid confusing this species with N. pubens, N. fulva is now being called the “tawny crazy ant”.
For more info about the tawny crazy ant go to: http://www.mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaepages/genericpages/Nylanderia_fulva.htm
For more info about ants of the southeastern United States go to: http://www.mississippientomologicalmuseum.org.msstate.edu/Researchtaxapages/Formicidaehome.html
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