Impacts of and mitigation strategies for the tawny crazy ant (Nylanderia fulva) on pecan orchards in southeast Texas

The  primary objective of this project is to determine the extent of N. fulva (the tawny crazy ant) infestations in commercial and noncommercial pecan orchards in Texas; the height at which they forage in pecan trees; identification of possible mutualism between N. fulva and honeydew producing hemipterans (particularly the yellow pecan aphid); and predation by N. fulva on beneficial arthropods. The project goal is to define the direct and indirect effects of tawny crazy ants on pecan orchards.  Our findings will provide pre and post-invasion data on orchards likely to be impacted by the tawny crazy ant. Data collection will consist of monitoring for N. fulva populations in pecan orchards, investigating their foraging and nesting heights in pecan trees, determining their prey preference and tending of honeydew producing hemipterans and determining the relationship between hemipteran and N. fulva populations in pecan orchards.