Tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) is an insect pest. It was first detected in Houston, TX in 2002.
This ant lives in large colonies and bite with a sharp but quickly fading pain. It has the potential to spread well beyond the current range in coastal Texas. However, it is a semi-tropical ant and potential northern distribution will be limited by cooler weather conditions. Large numbers of ants have accumulated in electrical equipment, causing short circuits and clogging switching mechanisms causing equipment failure.