What Are Argentine Ants?

Argentine ants have invaded countries worldwide, setting up massive aggressive nests that displace other creatures living in the area. If you have Argentine ants near your home, you’re likely to see signs of their expansive nests.

Argentine ants are native to Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern BIt’s believed that coffee and sugar ships from Brazil and Argentina first introduced these ants to the U.S. in the 1890s. razil. However, this invasive species has since made its way to the United States, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Europe, and New Ze1890s because their massive nests are a major pest that you want to keep out of your home.

What Do Argentine Ants Look Like?

Argentine ants are roughly two to three millimeters long and range from light to dark brown. Their distinguishing characteristics are impossible to see with the naked eye due to their tiny size. However, if you examined an Argentine ant up close, you would find that they have antennae that are divided into 12 segments, a smooth body surface, and low-set eyes below the widest portion of their heads.

The easiest way to identify Argentine ants without a microscope is by the wide ant trails they will leave, typically three to five ants wide. When you trace these back to the colony, you’ll find many ants. These colonies contain multiple queens, which may number in the hundreds. For every 15 queens, there are approximately 1,000 worker ants. An established Argentine ant colony is difficult to miss.

Another way you might identify them is by smell. When they are crushed, these ants emit a musty odor. Though you may not make the connection at first, the musty smell around your home could be a sign of an ant infestation.

Where Do Argentine Ants Live?

In the United States, Argentine ants are most commonly found in the southern part of the country and California and Hawaii. Infestations have been found in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Maryland, and Arizona.

Argentine ants prefer to nest outside beneath mulch, branches, wood, or debris. They create shallow nests with mounds just one or two inches deep. If the conditions outside are too dry or cold, these ants will seek shelter indoors. Here, they will look for a moist area that provides a water source. You may find them near water pipes or sinks. Their colonies can number in the millions so that these ants won’t go undetected for long.

Problems With Argentine Ants

The primary problem with Argentine ants is their tendency to contaminate food. These ants travel over waste and decaying materials and bring hazardous contaminants wherever they go. If their path brings them into your kitchen, you will have to throw away any food products that these ants get into.

Argentine ants prefer sweet food sources over savory ones. They’re often found tending aphids for their honeydew. They will seek out any sugary foods that you’ve left out in the home. Protein and greasy foods can attract these ants as well. They will take these types of food back to the colony for the larvae and queens to feed on.

These ants don’t infest homes as often as other ant species, but they may still travel into your home in considerable numbers seeking food, even if their nest is established outside. They will be highly aggressive and displace any other ant species living in the area. They’ve also been known to destroy beehives, kill termites, and attack chickens. These invaders are an unwanted presence near any home.

Pest Control Solutions

If you’re wondering how to get rid of Argentine ants, eliminating the infestation with bait is the best way. These ants transfer food from mouth to mouth so that poisons will move quickly through the colony. Due to the sheer size of most Argentine ant colonies, it’s best to leave the extermination of these pests to a professional. Don’t attempt to get rid of an Argentine ant colony yourself. If the ants are only moderately disturbed, they will relocate promptly.

An Argentine ant colony can span entire blocks. Rather than swarming and setting up new nests, as most ants do, this species will mate in the nest and expand their existing network. You may find several interconnected nests branching off of the original colony. A knowledgeable pest control professional with the right tools can help you locate the whole Argentine ant colony and develop a well-rounded plan for eradicating them.

Other Argentine Ant Facts

Destroying native insect populations can present a serious threat. Argentine ants are invaders in many of the countries where they’re found. There are some intriguing facts that you may want to know about them.

They’re Highly Efficient

Most ants create a pheromone trail leading back from food sources so that other ants can find their way. Argentine ants leave trails in both directions, ensuring that other ants won’t waste their time following an ant that’s already scouting in a particular area, even if that ant hasn’t returned yet. This behavior helps these ants forage as efficiently as possible.

They Spread in Summer

These ants can build their colonies quickly and spread very far from their original nest. After mating, a queen can produce fertile eggs for up to 10 years. It takes about two months for an Argentine ant to develop from an egg to an adult. New queens often branch off from the original nest in the summer, expanding the overall network of interconnected nests.

If you believe that you have Argentine ants in your home, contact a pest control professional today. The sooner you act to exterminate this type of infestation, the better, as these ants will spread quickly.