A blackhead and abdomen (rear portion of its body), with an orange face, legs, and thorax (middle portion). Additionally, the pain for the venom seems to last longer than bites or stings of other garden insects. I love it, and so do they. Because they are elongated, they can appear to look more like wasps than other species of ants do. The Twig Ant is dramatically colored but ant standards. Elongate twig ants do not create pheromones to aid in nest relocation. Just a quick video of them in their new outworld. We have a guest writer today, Joani MacCubbin who wants to tell the twig ant story below. The slender twig ant, Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius), is often called the elongate or Mexican twig ant, is a neotropical, arboreal ant best known for its associations with plants and its terrible sting (Wheeler and Wheeler 1956; Ward 1990). SIGNS OF INFESTATION. Twig ants, or “elongated twig ants,” generally have large, prominent eyes that are oval-shaped. We are both unhappy today and would like o find a fix.

This neotropical species is also referred to as a Mexican twig ant or an elongate ant. Residents often avoid injury by gently brushing these ants from skin or clothing rather than striking them. The slender twig ant, Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius), is often called the elongate or Mexican twig ant, is a neotropical, arboreal ant best known for its associations with plants and its terrible sting (Wheeler and Wheeler 1956, Ward 1990). There is little or no ornamental plant or structural damage caused by elongate twig ants, even though these ants have rarely been found nesting in wooden doors inside homes.

Mandible with 7 -10 teeth. Almost wasp-like in appearance and movement (quick, short dashes). Though similarly colored, the black and orange Twig ant is easily distinguishable from the much larger and more robust Velvet Ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis) or Cow Killer Ant, which is, in fact, a species of wasp. SIZE: 5/16-inch to 2/5-inch, or 8 … Synonymy. Twig ants — Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius) — are originally from Mexico but now make their home in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, with the potential to expand into other southern states such as Louisiana. The bite and venom combination of the Elongate Twig Ant can be exceptionally painful, reminiscent of a wasp sting. Workers of the graceful twig ant is easily recognized by its elongate, wasp-like appearance, large size (TL 8-10 mm, HW 1.39-2.07), orange and black to entirely blackish or entirely organgish-brown coloration, large eyes (REL 0.54–0.60) ocelli, elongate two-segmented waist, and a well developed sting. Instead, when they need to move and create another nest, adult workers carry other mature workers, queens and males to the new nest site. Elongate Twig Ant Pseudomyrmex gracilis Foraging Characteristics: Large, slender, solitary ant often seen on vegetation.

Elongate Twig ants have single queen nests, which contain few individuals.