Argentine Ant Facts & Information
How do I get rid of Argentine Ants?
It takes time and patience to control Argentine ants. This type of ant is best left to the professionals because there are so many possible nesting locations.
Argentine ants and other similar pests are no problem for On Demand Pros. Your specialist will come up with a custom ant treatment plan because no two buildings or homes are the same.
Ant control is not a one-time procedure, but rather an ongoing effort. Assessment, treatment, and maintenance are part of On Demand’s solution. You can count on On Demand for the right ant control solution for your home or business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Invasive Argentine ants are known for displacing native ants. They’re also one of the most bothersome pests to have in your house. Argentine ants are attracted to moist areas, such as mulch, debris on the ground, refuse piles, and house foundations. Pests may seek refuge in gaps and cracks around the house as the weather cools in the fall.
Because Argentine ant nests house multiple queens, these pests reproduce quickly and build massive colonies with hundreds of thousands of workers. The insects are attracted to decay and waste, and they spread bacteria wherever they go. Baits are more effective than aerosol or liquid insecticides because Argentine ants feed by passing food from mouth to mouth.
Argentine ants prey on other insects and infiltrate human homes. The network of interconnected colonies could grow into a massive infestation over time. Argentine ant colonies can have millions of insects and multiple queens. These colonies are capable of occupying entire city blocks. Argentine ant infestations are best identified and treated by a professional pest control company.
The most visible sign of Argentine ants is their foraging trails. The trails can be seen ascending buildings, through trees, and into homes.
On Demand does NOT charge for inspections. Our objective is to provide each customer with a personalized strategy. We know where to look for certain types of bugs, and we will perform a full inspection to find them. Additionally, we will also check for any other type of pest that may have made their way into your home. Each strategy takes into account the specifics of the property, issue, and the surrounding area. You may request an inspection by contacting 954-998-0113.
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Understanding Argentine Ants
Appearance
The color of Argentine ants varies from light to dark brown.
They are approximately 2.2 to 2.8 mm in length.
Their antennae are divided into 12 segments.
Behavior
It’s easy for Argentine ants to adapt to a wide range of environments because they’re so adaptable. Hundreds of queens can be found in a single colony. Moist soil, buildings, sidewalks, and boards are common places to find nesting locations. The ants follow a set of trails.
Diet
As an omnivore, Argentina’s Argentine ants can take in almost anything, but they prefer sweets.
Habitat
Soil Argentine ants can be found living in the soil or under logs and other debris, as well as mulch. They can also build their nests in tree and shrub cavities. Often, their nests are only a few centimeters deep in open areas.
All Argentine ants are a uniform size throughout. Between their web of nests and their food sources, they follow well-defined trails. Honeydew and oily household foods are favorite food sources for Argentine ants.
Reproduction
Argentine ants, like all other ant species, go through a process of development known as complete metamorphosis (CM). The white eggs hatch into larvae after 28 days. In 74 days or so, they’ll be fully grown.
Nests
Argentine ants, unlike other ant species, do not swarm in order to create new colonies. When they reproduce, they don’t leave the nest, but rather mate within the confines of it. A queen Argentine ant may leave her nest on foot to establish new colonies when the temperature or other colony pressures necessitate it. New nests are built around the original and are connected to the old colony of the queen, so workers are sometimes shared between the two colonial organizations.
Queens
When compared to queens of other ant species, Argentine queens are unique. Dissimilarities and behavioral traits include:
- In comparison to other queens, Argentine ant queens are extremely small, measuring between 1/6 and 1/4 inches in length.
- After mating once, winged Argentine queens can continue to produce fertile eggs for the rest of their lives. Other ant species have seasonal swarming flights, but these ants do not use mating swarms to start new nests. They instead mate within the nest.
- There are multiple queens in a single Argentine ant colony, each capable of laying up to 60 eggs a day.
- Helping workers is the primary role of queens in Argentine ant colonies. Most other ant queens spend their time laying eggs and rely on the ant workers to feed and care for their larvae.
- Unlike other ant queens, the queens of Argentine ants are mobile and can be found outside the nest with their workers. A queen’s mobility makes it possible for her to swiftly move her nest to a new location in the event that the current one becomes uninhabitable.
- Occasionally, an Argentine ant queen will leave her nest and start a new one because of high temperatures or other factors.
Males
Unfertilized eggs hatch into male Argentine ants, which have a short life expectancy and die after mating. Only by mating with the queen can an Argentine ant colony be maintained and reproduced. It is not uncommon for the males to die shortly after mating.
