Yellow crazy ant

• Yellow to brownish ant with body about 5mm long.
• Abdomen is dark brown, sometimes striped.
• Legs and antennae are very long.
• Body is long and slender.
• Walking style is erratic.
• May spray formic acid when disturbed.

• Yellow crazy ants typically colonise moist, shady, disturbed habitats such as rainforest margins/gaps and agricultural land, particularly agroforestry.
• In northern Australia, yellow crazy ants were initially believed to prefer rainforest, but recent research confirms they can thrive in harsh, rocky, dry areas in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

• Infestations have been found at:
  • light industrial properties in Maryborough, Arundel, Rocklea, Slacks Creek, Wacol, Banyo, Tingalpa, Chermside, Woodridge and Eagle Farm
  • suburban Kedron in Brisbane
  • suburban Edmonton and Bentley Park in Cairns
  • industrial estates at Caboolture, Hervey Bay, Pinkenba and Townsville.
• Previous infestations were in Woree and Portsmith in Cairns but have now been eradicated.

• Worker ants have a life cycle of 76–84 days. Queens survive for several years. Workers are produced throughout the year, but production fluctuates.
• Sexual offspring are produced at any time in the year but generally 1–2 months prior to the rainy season.

Environmental

• Disrupts natural species, including native birds, animals and plants.
• Is reducing unique red crab population on Christmas Island.
• Protects sap-sucking insects such as scale and mealy bugs.

Economic

• Can affect horticulture industries.

Social

• Sprays formic acid, which may cause burning and irritate skin and eyes of animals and potentially humans.

• Treat infestations by spraying or baiting (foraging ants collect bait and carry it back to colony, sharing it with queens, who are only ants in colony able to reproduce).
• Landholders can use insecticides that are registered for ant control.
• Distance® Plus Ant Bait can be effective. However, yellow crazy ants could become resistant to Distance® Plus, so better to combine different insecticides and integrated land management practices.
• Use insecticides according to label instructions.
• Further information about insecticides can be found on the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website.
• Landholders may choose to call local pest control operator.

• The yellow crazy ant is a category 3 restricted tramp ant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with yellow crazy ants under your control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• At a local level, each local council must have a biosecurity plan that covers tramp ants in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on yellow crazy ants. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.