Exterminator Tom Raspberry was on a job in the Houston area in 2002 when he encountered an insect he didn’t recognize — a small, reddish-brown ant that moved in a peculiar zigzag pattern. The species he’d found, the invasive and often destructive tawny crazy ant, likely arrived from South America by cargo ship and has since been found in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida, and it’s spreading quickly.
The small ant, which measures less than 1/8 inch in length, does not have a stinger and poses no significant danger to humans. However, it’s already making a name for itself by nesting in and damaging electronic equipment, including outdoor air conditioners.