Prenolepis-genus-group
Guides
Nylanderia
Crazy ants
Nylanderia is a large genus of formicine ants with over 130 described species and a nearly cosmopolitan distribution, notably absent from Europe. The genus was resurrected from synonymy with Paratrechina in 2010 based on molecular phylogenetics and morphological reassessment. Species range from small to medium in size (1–4 mm) and exhibit coloration from pale yellow to black. Several species are significant invasive pests, including N. fulva (tawny crazy ant) and N. bourbonica, which form massive supercolonies and cause ecological and economic damage.