Argentine Ants and Argentine Ant Control

Location, Origin and Migration of the Argentine Ant in the United States

These ants are native to South America and were first identified in Argentina, (thereby deriving the name Argentine Ant). It is believed that they entered the United States on ships importing coffee in the port of New Orleans approximately in 1890 and identified in California by 1905. They are now found on all populated continents. This invasive species have built three super-colonies, Asia, Europe, and guess where? California! This is one of the reasons we have ant issues year-round.

Biology of Argentine Ants

Argentine Ants are about 2-3 mm (1/8″) long and are usually light or dark brown. The abdomen may appear silvery after heavy feeding. Workers are all one size although a larger queen may be seen foraging in the open. Argentine ants can be identified by lack of spines on their thorax as well as having 1 dark colored node. They also produce a faint grease-like odor when they are crushed. Males are winged and can be seen foraging at times along with the workers and may be seen trailing. Queens can live to 10 years. The colony will not self-destruct when the queen dies as other queens are created to take its’ place. Queen is 2-4 times the size of the workers. Argentine ants have a lot of queens, as many as eight for every 1,000 workers.

Argentine Ant Food Source

Argentine ants search out protein as well as sweets.

Most of the Argentine An diet consists of insect secretions and body fluids as well as, sweets, fruits, buds, syrups, oils, honeydews of aphids and several other insects (70% of diet). They will also consumer proteins, such as egg yolks, insects (dead or alive), organic matter. One customer called about an ant infestation in their kitchen. Evidently, a tiny bit of ham had fallen to the floor the night before and by morning, it was covered in ants with trails leading outside!

Habitat and Range

Argentine ants live in colonies of several thousand to millions, including satellite colonies. Argentine ants are known to view seemingly unrelated Argentine ant colonies as close relations. Therefore, they do not attack each other. They will team up for common interests and launch joint attacks. Researches have called these groupings of Argentine ants “Super-colonies.” The development of these supercolonies is attributed to the strong genetic similarity of Argentine ant colonies. Some super-colonies have been stated to extend several hundred miles. Generally Argentine Ants can be found –

Indoors: Just about anywhere from the kitchen pantries to children’s rooms, along floors, walls and ceilings, in the garage, along water pipes and electrical lines.

Outdoors: They are often found where there are dead or decaying insects and rodents.

Once, we found them in a light switch box where a young mouse had become logged and died. During summers, we have found them even in freezers!

From their native range in Argentina, the L. Humile has spread across the world. (Map: A Suarez)

Damage done by Argentine Ants

Argentine ants, due to their use of pest secretions, act in ways that increase the pest activity of crop destroying insects, such as aphids and scales. They are attracted by electrical currents and are known to have caused damage to air conditioners, heat pumps, telephone junction boxes, etc. When they become lodged or electrocuted between the contacts of relays, it damages the contacts and causes the equipment controlled by the relay to malfunction.

Click to follow link for an Image of damage caused by Argentine Ants.

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Controlling Argentine Ants with Professional Products and Techniques

There are many methods for controlling Argentine Ants. Flowables, baits, non-repellents and repellents, natural products, and certainly cultural practices such are proper handling and disposal of garbage and landscape management all have their place.

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The following are just a few of many products:

Low Toxicity
EcoSmart EcoExemptIC2
EcoPCO product set (aerosols, dust)
Non-Repellent
Termidor – limited use label
Phantom – for indoor use in combination with Termidor
Transport – new on the market (two active ingredients including imidicloprid and pyrethrins)
Repellent
Pyrethins and Pyrethroid, many now available in encapsoled versions for extended control
Baits
Maxforce Antgel
Optiguard
Intice
Dust
EcoSmart EcoPCO D-X
Delta Dust

Argentine ants are a common household pest, often entering structures in search of food or water (particularly during dry or hot weather), or to escape flooded nests during periods of heavy rainfall. Argentine ant colonies almost invariably have many reproductive queens, as many as eight for every 1,000 workers, so eliminating a single queen does not stop the colony’s ability to breed. When they invade a kitchen, it is not uncommon to see two or three queens foraging along with the workers.

Argentine ant nest.

Due to their nesting behavior and presence of numerous queens in each colony, it is generally impractical to spray Argentine ants with pesticides or to use boiling water as with mound building ants. Indeed, spraying with pesticides will stimulate increased egg-laying by the queens, compounding the problem.

Pest control usually requires exploiting their omnivorous dietary habits. They prefer sweet foods such as the honeydew produced by aphids and mealybugs. The most effective control is through use of slow-acting poison bait, which will be carried back to the nest by the workers, eventually killing all the individuals, including the queens. It may take four to five days to eradicate a colony in this manner. An effective homemade recipe consists of a solution of granulated white table sugar and boric acid, placed in a shallow dish in the area being invaded:

Focus efforts on keeping ants out of the house. Follow good sanitation practices to make your home less attractive to ants. Spraying ants inside the home will not prevent more ants from entering. Use baits to control the ant colony.

Customer Assistance in Argentine Ant control:

When ants invade your home, take immediate action:

Sponge invaders with soapy water as soon as you see them. Plug up ant entryways with caulk or petroleum jelly. Remove infested potted plants. Clean up food sources such as sugary spills, pet food, or garbage. Rely on baits to control the ant colony. Indoor sprays are not usually necessary

Prevention of Argentine Ant Infestations

Focus efforts on following good sanitation practices and excluding ants from buildings.
Keep ants off of trees or shrubs near buildings. Be prepared for annual invasions by caulking and baiting before the influx.

For more information on ants and ant species, visit our page on Ant Control

Product Information

Review our Product Labels and MSDS Sheets which we regularly amend to bring you the best products on the market for ant control.

Call today at 800-986-1006 for help with an Argentine ant infestation. You’re also welcome to complete the form below and a caring Hearts Pest Management representative will contact you shortly.

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