Rasberry Crazy Ants Heading Towards Houston

Houston, welcome the Rasberry crazy ant, due to arrive in the great state of Texas within just a few weeks.

These tiny insects--dubbed even more dangerous than the invasive fire ant--were given their common name in honor of Tom Rasberry, the exterminator who first recognized the species in 2002. They're also technically known as tawny crazy ants or Nylanderia fulva.

"I've been in houses where every time you took a step you'd literally be stepping on thousands of ants with each step," Rasberry said, via FoxNews.com.

According to a study conducted in 2013, these tiny terrors have hit more than 20 counties in the Lone Star state, spreading colonies much farther and wider than the typical insect.

In the wild, these guys live under rocks and trees or hide out in the grass. However, they do not build homes like many other ant species, which may make them more difficult to spot at first. They're more commonly known for invading homes and destroying electronic devices. And many times, pesticides alone are not enough to get rid of these pests.

"They've gotten into electronic systems in chemical plants and shorted-out equipment that forced the plants to shut down entire units," Rasberry said, via the news organization.

Raspberry notes that these troublesome creatures may be particularly dangerous to those living in Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, where they have been spotted on more than one occasion. Entomologists believe that these insects may have come from South America, just by hitching onto a cargo ship back in the 1930s.

For those who have come into contact with these pesky nusances, program specialist of Texas A&M's Agricultural Life Paul Nester may have some temporary solutions, including removing mulch from potted plants and wood piles that many like to live in.