How to identify and treat Argentine ants

Characterized as the worst invasive ant species in the world, Argentine ants live up to their infamy. Originally from South America, these little hitchhikers have made the world their playground. And what makes these ants more successful than other species? It’s because they are nice to get along with! For other Argentine ants, that is.

You see, most ants fight with other species and other colonies of the same species. These intercolonial battles keep populations in check and limit ants to certain regions. However, Argentine ants get along so well with one another that ants from one colony don’t mind if their cousins from another colony stop on by.

This lack of aggression has led to the formation of supercolonies that can span hundreds of miles. The one in California is estimated to be 560 miles long! This long chain of related ant colonies with multiple queens can become a severe problem for other native ants, insects, and even small vertebrates that aren’t used to defending themselves against ants.

In the end, Argentine ants have made the list of the top 100 worst invasive species on the planet, and they can be a struggle for homeowners just like you.

Argentine ants are tiny ants that vary in color from light to dark brown. On closer inspection, they come off as very shiny, and if you look at their antennae under a magnifying glass or microscope, you’ll see 12 sections on each antenna.

If you have an infestation of Argentine ants, it'll be quite obvious. They are notorious for going after sweets and making long trails of other workers looking for the sugary resource. While most ants will lay a pheromone trail from a food source back to the nest, Argentine ants double up by placing trail pheromones to and from the nest. That solidifies the food trail for other worker ants to follow.

How big are Argentine ants?

Argentine ants are quite small, typically about 1/16 to ¼ inch

What other ants look like Argentine ants?

They can be confused with odorous house ants or pavement ants, which are also small and tend to invade homes.

Argentine ants originated in northern Argentina and can be found in many South American countries. However, because of human introductions, Argentine ants can be found worldwide. They live on both coasts of the US and in Hawaii.

When they decide to venture inside, they are often found in kitchens and bathrooms seeking moisture and food. Outside, they live in wet environments like mulch, under rocks, or around sidewalks and foundations.

Due to their tiny size, Argentine ants are very good at squeezing through even the smallest gaps to get inside your home. One of the best things to do to keep out Argentine ants is prevention.

Try these tips below:

• Remove open food sources
• Store food in insect-proof containers
• Clean up juice, syrup, or sweet food spills entirely
• Eliminate any standing water, leaks, or moisture in the home

You can also put up a defense to keep them out, including:

• Seal up cracks and gaps around the home with caulk
• Spray an insect barrier in and around your home, like what Pestie offers
• Use ant baits to kill invading ants