Native to Africa, the yellow crazy and has a long body and very long legs and antennae. Its name comes from its erratic walking style and frantic movements, especially when disturbed. But what’s really crazy about these ants is their odd attraction to electrical equipment. It’s estimated that every year, crazy ants cause more than $146 million in electrical damage. These ants, when electrocuted, release a scent (pheromone), providing a signal to other ants to rush to the scene to find the ‘attacker.’
Yellow crazy ants also damage natural environments, affect the horticulture industry, and cause skin and eye irritations.
The yellow crazy and is listed as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Knowing what these ants have done elsewhere gives us plenty of reasons to be worried if they aren’t eradicated.
The yellow crazy ant was introduced by accident to Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean about 70 years back. It quickly got a foothold and started to take over. The devastating effects of the supercolonies on the island are readily apparent. These ants can overpower reptiles and coconut crabs. An estimated 20 million red crabs have been killed by these ants, about 30% of the island’s entire population! The ants succeed in their killing sprees by injecting an acid into the eye of their victims. The acid is poisonous to the red crabs, and it blinds them leaving them to starve to death or be killed by predators. It was also introduced to Australia accidentally.
Crazy ants are highly adaptable, living in both moist and dry habitats. They establish their nests in the vicinity of trees and plants, inside the rotten wood, under rock and trash, in the soil and in the debris and residue of the building standing for a long time. Crazy ants cannot survive extremely cold climates and may invade houses and buildings when the weather changes.
Crazy ants are omnivorous, feeding on both dead and living insects, honeydew produced from insects, fruits, plant secretions, seeds and a variety of household food items such as sweets, meats, grease, and liquids.
The ants can be painful and dangerous to people and animals. They spray formic acid when disturbed, and it can be particularly painful if there is contact with the eyes. Spraying can cause skin burns and eye irritation in humans. The ants can kill a large animal in a mass attack. These ants are described as “scavenging predators”. They eat not only small isopods, myriapods, earthworms, mollusks, arachnids, and insects, but also large land crabs, birds, mammals, and reptiles.
The below-mentioned news is an evidence for same:
Invasive ‘crazy’ ant species discovered in New South Wales for the first time in more than a decade
By Leah White, ABC North Coast │ May 25, 2018
An invasive ant species capable of causing blindness and decimating crops has been discovered infesting the CBD of a town on the north coast of New South Wales.
Farmer temporarily blinded
Queensland resident and cane worker Frank Teodo said he was temporarily blinded by yellow crazy ants.
The Edmonton landholder said the ants wreak havoc on the environment, lifestyles and the health of people and their pets.
“I had them on my property for quite some time,” he said.
“They build up in sufficient numbers, I couldn’t control them — I had a cocktail of chemicals around my house that would have knocked out anything.
“They don’t actually bite, but they spray formic acid, so they can blind your pets, they’ll blind you if you get them near your eyes.
Invasive crazy ants disrupt pollination in pumpkin
Aathira Perinchery, THE HINDU │October 07, 2017
Ant presence may be deterring bees
There is yet another reason to be worried about invasive yellow crazy ants — these aggressive predators of native fauna also disrupt pollination in pumpkin plants causing crop loss finds a recent study published in the journal Biological Invasions. This is the first time that this has been recorded in any plant.
Pollination is vital for fruit formation. However, in the traditionally bee-pollinated pumpkin patches of northern Kerala’s Kasargod district, farmers now hand-pollinate their pumpkin patches, complaining of crop loss otherwise. Scientists at the Central University of Kerala decided to investigate why pumpkin pollinators here were failing.
Ineffective control options adopted to prevent the crazy ant infestation include ant baits, dust and perimeter granules and sprays. But the ants and many other insects have become immune to the content used in these products. Moreover, the dusting powder is insecticide formulated which is dangerous to humans as well as pests. Temporary relief from using products with pyrethroid insecticides is achieved, but re-application is necessary every two to three months.
A permanent solution to this can be a blessing.
C Tech Corporation can offer an eco-friendly solution to the nuisance caused by the insects. Our product Combirepel™ is a low-toxic, non-hazardous and insect aversive. Our products work on the mechanism of repellence and they do not harm or kill the target species but generate fear or trigger temporary discomfort within the pests that keep the pests away from the application.
Our product works on the mechanism of repellency. It temporarily inhibits the mating cycle of the insects. The product impairs the ability of the insects to reproduce, that is the insects will not lay eggs or the laid eggs will be infertile. The product causes feeding disruption in an insect by triggering an unpleasant reaction within the insect which might try to feed on the application. The product temporarily blocks the reproduction system of the insects by hindering the release of the vital hormones for growth.
Our product is compliant with RoHS, RoHS2, ISO, APVMA, NEA, EU-BPR and REACH and is FIFRA exempted. The green technology-based product can protect the crops and prevent the loss caused by the yellow crazy ants and other insects as well.
Our Combirepel™ masterbatch can be incorporated with various polymeric applications like polymeric fences in farms, tree guards, agriculture mulch films, floating row covers, greenhouse films, sprinklers, water pipes, wires, and cables, etc.
Combirepel™ is available in liquid concentrate which can be mixed in paints and be applied to the interior and exterior of the farms, homes, apartments, electrical equipment, etc.
Combirepel™ is available in lacquer form. These products can be directly sprayed or applied to the application as a topical application. It can be applied to the already laid pipes and tubing in the farm, fences around farms and garden. It can be applied to the already installed applications used in farms and homes. The lacquer is compatible with most of the surfaces like wood, metal, concrete, polymers, ceramics, etc.
Thus, using our products, you can get an effective solution to fight menace caused by insects!
Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com to keep the pests away.
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