Argentine Ants

Appearance

Light to dark brown; segmented, oval; 1/16 to 1/4 inch in length with 12-segmented antennae; uneven thorax

Shape

Segmented, Oval

Region

Southern to southwestern United States

Size

1/16th – 1/4 inch

Flying

Rare Winged swarmers

Diet: Argentine ants are omnivorous that prefer sweet foods, but will eat almost anything.

Habitat: Argentine ants live in moist areas that are near a food source, such as outside office buildings or beneath boards in damp soil. They continuously leave trails to ensure they do not waste time returning to previous food sources, rather than depositing trails from nest to food source.

Threats: While an invasive ant species, Argentine ants do not bite or sting humans so are harmless. However, they can contaminate food when they enter homes.

Control: Argentine ants are difficult to eliminate from your property due to their large colony size and invading multiple areas at a location. Professional pest control is required to apply a multi-step process for treatment, which involves locating and treating existing colonies, sealing possible entries, and applying ant control treatment along perimeters.