Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 1317433

Yellow Crazy Ant

Anoplolepis gracilipes

Also known as Long-legged Ant, Maldive Ant, Crazy Ant

Yellow crazy ants are famous for their frantic, erratic movements when disturbed, darting in unpredictable directions rather than straight paths. They build massive multi-queen supercolonies that blind and overpower animals as large as red land crabs by spraying cloud-like bursts of formic acid. Their intense honeydew-harvesting partnership with scale insects alters forest canopies and disrupts entire island ecosystems across the tropics.

InvasiveSupercolonialAggressive
Yellow Crazy Ant reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Nigel Main, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nigel Main · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Scale insect honeydew
  • Land crabs
  • Small invertebrates
Predators
  • Lizards
  • Spiders
  • Predatory beetles
ThreatsTargeted eradication programs, biological control efforts
HabitatsTropical forests, coastal scrub, agricultural land, urban areas
Life spanWorkers live 2–6 months; queens live up to 5 years
Classification
  1. OrderHymenoptera
  2. FamilyFormicidae
  3. GenusAnoplolepis
  4. SpeciesAnoplolepis gracilipes
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Sprays formic acid when threatened, causing skin and eye irritation; avoid disturbing nests or foraging trails.
Why it is dangerous
Sprays localized clouds of formic acid defensively, causing burning sensations, rashes, and intense eye irritation.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Recognized by long legs, slender yellow-brown body, long antennae, and erratic, frantic running style.
What to do
Do not step into active foraging trails or handle nests; wear eye protection when working near infestations.
Responsible observation
  • Watch Movement: Observe their rapid, frantic, erratic foraging trails along tree trunks and ground layer.
  • Keep Distance: Avoid standing near disturbed nests to prevent painful formic acid spray on skin and eyes.
  • Inspect Gear: Check shoes, backpacks, and vehicles before moving between tropical habitat zones.
Related species
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