The yellow crazy ant was first recorded in the Seychelles in 1969; it is assumed
that it was first introduced in the early 1960s on the main island, Mahe (Lewis et al. ´
1976; Haines et al. 1994). After a period of establishment, when it was geographically
restricted, it became a widespread pest species (in particular, as a
domestic nuisance). Because of its pest status, and the danger of spread to other
islands in the Seychelles archipelago, efforts were made to control the species’
abundance and further spread (Haines and Haines 1978b). However, in the 1970s
and 1980s the species spread to Praslin (Dorow 1995) and Felicite (Haines et al. ´ ´
1994). Yellow crazy ants were first recorded on Bird Island in 1991 (Feare 1999b).
Control measures and/or natural population processes have led to a reduction in pest
problems on Mahe, but the ant has continued to expand its range within and between ´
islands: in 2000, it was recorded as present on at least nine islands in the Central
Seychelles (Hill 2001).