The Rasberry crazy ant, a tiny new pest, is working its way here from the Houston area, possibly transferred geographically on landscaping plants or hay bales.
The swarming, uniformly-sized 1/8 inch long, reddish-brown ants crawl "rapidly and erratically." They nest outdoors under such things as rocks and landscape timbers.
"In infested areas around the Houston area, large numbers of Rasberry crazy ants have caused great annoyance to residents and businesses. In some situations, it has become uncomfortable for residents to enjoy time in their yards. Companion animals may, in some cases, avoid the outdoors as well, and wildlife such as nesting songbirds, can be affected. The economic impact is currently unknown." The Texas A&M Center for Urban and Structural Entomology is working on identifying it.
TAMU also has a separate website for information on fire ants.
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