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Yellow crazy ant
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==Physiology== ''Anoplolepis gracilipes'' is a relatively large, yellow to orange ant with long legs, large eyes and extremely long antennal scapes. Although ''A. gracilipes'' is the only invasive species in the genus ''Anoplolepis'', there are several other genera for which it can be mistaken. Both ''[[Leptomyrmex]]'' and ''[[Oecophylla]]'' can be confused with ''Anoplolepis'' because of their similar sizes and very long limbs. ''Anoplolepis'' can be distinguished from ''Leptomyrmex'' by the presence of an [[acidopore]], while ''Anoplolepis'' can be distinguished from ''Oecophylla'' by the more compact [[Petiole (insect anatomy)|petiole]]. Although both of these genera occur in the Pacific, neither contain any invasive species. Several species of invasive ants belonging to the genera ''[[Camponotus]]'' and ''[[Paratrechina]]'' can appear similar to ''A. gracilipes''. Although several invasive species of ''[[Pheidole]]'' can also be slender-bodied with long legs and long antennal scapes, they can be separated from ''A. gracilipes'' by their two-segmented waists. ''A. gracilipes'' is widespread across the tropics, and populations are especially dense in the Pacific region. The species is most infamous for causing the ecological "meltdown" of [[Yellow crazy ant#Impact on Christmas Island|Christmas Island]].<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://wolfweb.unr.edu/~ldyer/classes/396/odowd.pdf |title=Invasional 'meltdown' on an oceanic island|journal=Ecology Letters|volume=6|issue=9|pages=812β817|doi=10.1046/j.1461-0248.2003.00512.x|year=2003|last1=O'Dowd|first1=Dennis J.|last2=Green|first2=Peter T.|last3=Lake|first3=P. S.}}</ref><ref name="Aus-ISC-push-back" /> Although widespread across the Pacific, ''A. gracilipes'' can cause significant damage to native biological diversity. Strong [[quarantine]] measures are encouraged to keep it from spreading to new localities.
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