General Impact
This ant displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression, and as such is a serious threat to biodiversity. Evidence also exists of reductions in vertebrate populations where this ant is extremely abundant. Effects on plants and horticultural crops can be direct through the likes of seed harvesting, or indirect through the likes of harbouring phytophagous insects which reduce plant productivity. It is known to facilitate the invasion of introduced plant species. This ant is known to chew on irrigation, telephone cabling and electrical wires.
Location Specific Impacts:North Australia (Australia) 
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, quarantine problem for export products, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Northern Territory (Australia)
Agricultural: Dr Hoffmann says pest ants, particularly the African Big-headed ant and the Yellow Crazy ant, are a major threat to the environment and are also a serious pest of agriculture as they cause outbreaks of sap-sucking insects, which harm plants (ScienceDaily Magazine, Dec 12th 2003).
Ecosystem change: Dr Hoffmann says pest ants, particularly the African Big-headed ant and the Yellow Crazy ant, can form huge colonies, totally displacing native animals and seriously disrupting ecological processes (ScienceDaily Magazine, Dec 12th 2003). Southwest Australia (Australia)
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Cuba
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Fiji
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Kenya
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Philippines
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Bush Key (United States (USA))
Reduction in native biodiversity: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.
Threat to endangered species: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings. Garden Key (United States (USA))
Reduction in native biodiversity: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.
Threat to endangered species: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings. Loggerhead Key (United States (USA))
Reduction in native biodiversity: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.
Threat to endangered species: Wetterer and O'Hara (2002) observe that The two dominant ant species, Ph. megacephala and S. geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings. Hawaii (United States (USA))
Agricultural: Harbouring phytophagous insects, eradication of beneficial insects.
Human nuisance: Pest in kitchens and around houses.
Predation: Displaces most native invertebrate faunas directly through aggression. Particularly beetles and moths (Source: SPREP).
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