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Pest Library
Size: |
Argentine ant workers are about 1/16 in (2.2-2.6 mm)
long. Queens are about 1/8-1/4 in (4-6 mm) long. |
Color: |
Light to dark brown |
Geographic Range: |
Native to Argentina and Brazil, but probably brought to U.S. on
coffee ships before 1891. Argentine ants are now found in southern
U.S. and in California, with isolated infestations in Illinois, Maryland,
Missouri, Oregon, Washington. |
Habitat: |
Argentine ants build shallow nests near a source of moisture, such
as along sidewalks, under rocks, between plants, near water pipes,
potted plants. |
Food: |
Argentine ants follow regular trails, and are often found outside
near insects such as aphids, that produce a honey-like secretion,
called honeydew. They like sweets best, but also feed on oil, fats,
meat. |
Biology: |
Colonies have many queens, and hundreds, or up to several thousand,
workers. The numbers change depending upon the time of year. Overwintering
nests are formed by colonies joining together. Different colonies
get along with each other, but Argentine ants are aggressive towards
other ant species and usually get rid of them. Mating takes place
in the nest, so winged reproductive females are not often seen. Development
from egg to adult takes an average of 74 days. |
Invasion: |
Argentine ants come inside when the weather is very wet or very
dry, and when they are short on honeydew. |
Damage: |
Argentine ants are mainly a nuisance pest, but since they crawl
over garbage, sewage, and carrion, they can transport disease organisms. |
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