Principal source: Warner, John and Rudolph H. Scheffrahn, 2008. Caribbean Crazy Ant (proposed common name), Paratrechina pubens Forel (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) EENY-284 series of Featured Creatures from the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida.
Wetterer, James K., Keularts, Jozef L. W. 2008. Population explosion of the hairy crazy ant, Paratrechina pubens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Florida Entomologist. 91(3). SEP 2008. 423-427.
AgriLife Research and Extension, 2008. Raspberry Crazy Ant Nylanderia sp. near pubens Center for Urban and Structural Entomology.
Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)
Updates with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment
Review: Dr. John Warner, University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center
Publication date: 2010-09-24
Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Nylanderia (=Paratrechina) pubens. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Nylanderia+(=Paratrechina)+pubens on 02-11-2024.
The ecological impacts of N. pubens have not yet been evaluated. Observations suggest they cause a homogenization of ant fauna and/or a reduction or displacement of native ant populations. In areas where it is well established in Florida, another invasive, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), has been completely displaced. Although it is not a native species, such a displacement by N. pubens indicates a substantial threat to native ants (Warner& Scheffrahn, 2008; Meyers, 2008; Meyers & Gold, 2006; Drees et al, undated; AgriLife, 2008; Wetterer & Keularts, 2008)
Dinotefuran exhibited high laboratory efficacy against Nylanderia pubens, while treatments using novaluron were inconclusive. The use of expanded-use Termidor® demonstrated trends in these data that suggest it as the treatment of choice. Other field treatments, such as Termidor and Top Choice®, Termidor and Advance Carpenter Ant BaitTM, and Transport® and Talstar® G, did not attain the success found in the expanded-use Termidor treatment. Most treatments examined were determined ineffective against high populations of N. pubens. Additional and more intensive population management regimes should be investigated. Abating further population proliferation to other regions will only be realized from additional control research supplemented with state and federal interdiction policies (Meyers, 2008; Drees et al, undated).
Sweet liquid ant bait was fed upon when placed directly on an active trail, but recruitment to the bait was not observed. Sprays and granular applications of residual insecticides seemingly have had little or no effect in controlling this non-biting nuisance ant. The use of contact residual insecticides sprayed along active trails and nest sites is recommended to reduce ant populations, followed a few days later by sweet ant baits placed at numerous locations along trails and frequently replaced with fresh bait (Warner & Scheffrahn, 2008).