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The Argentine Ant

The Argentine worker ants are 0.06–0.11 inches long and can easily squeeze through cracks and holes as small as 0.04 inches in size. Queens are approximately 0.17–0.25 inches long,much smaller than other species of ants. These ants will set up in the ground, cracks in concrete walls, spaces between boards and timbers, etc. In natural areas, they generally nest shallow in leaf litter or beneath small stones, due to their poor ability to dig deeper nests.

They travel with well-defined trails between their web of nests and their food sources. Argentine ants are omnivorous, meaning that they can eat almost anything, but they prefer sweet foods. Argentine ants feed on sweets, honeydew and oily household foods.

Argentine ants are a common household pest, often entering structures in search of food or water, or to escape flooded nests during periods of heavy rainfall. When they invade a kitchen, it is not uncommon to see two or three queens foraging along with the workers. Eliminating a single queen does not stop the ability to breed.

The ants are ranked among the world's 100 worst animal invaders. In its introduced range, the Argentine ant often displaces most or all native ants. This can, in turn, imperil other species in the ecosystem, such as native plants that depend on native ants for seed dispersal.

Now that you know the common signs of what an ant infestation looks like, let Universal do the heavy lifting for you. Call 757-502-0200 to learn more. Or visit Universal Pest & Termite.