Crazy ants are highly adaptable, nesting in both dry and moist habitats. The ants are relatively small, about 1/8 inch and are covered with reddish-brown hairs. Crazy ants are of the few species that have a peculiar attraction to electrical wiring and components although no one is sure why. Crazy ants have a tendency to explore human habitats and can cause damage to electronics in unusual ways.

If the ants fail to chew up the electronic product, their carcasses can cause just as much destruction. As one ant finds its way into a transformer and gets electrocuted, it immediately waves it abdomen in the air, omitting a particular scent (pheromone) that attracts many other ants to the scene to search for the “attacker”. If they touch the first ant or a hot switch, they will be also be electrocuted, sending more pheromones into the air and calling even more ants to their location. As each of the ants dies off, the bodies build up in electric switches or devices, causing switches to get stuck or the system to short-circuit. The ants frequently also build bridges in electrical systems, such as air conditioners. The soil and moisture can also cause these systems to short-circuit and require expensive repairs.