Argentine Ant

How do I identify Argentine Ants?
Color: Argentine ants will vary from dull to dark brown. Size: Workers are 1/16" long
        Queens are 1/8" to ¼"
Argentine Ant workers give off a stale, musty odor when crushed. However, not all people are able to pick up on this scent.

Have Argentine Ants infested your home?
Argentine ants usually nest in moist conditions either in the soil underneath buildings, in the cracks of sidewalks, etc. or indoors in potted plants, close to water pipes or sinks. Populations tend to increase significantly in early Spring and die off towards Winter.

Will Argentine Ants bite?
All ants can bite but some are more aggressive than others. This ant lacks a stinger but if provoked it will bite.

Will Argentine Ants damage my home or structure?
Argentine ants will invade a home or building when conditions outside become either too wet or too dry. Mostly they will just be a nuisance as they trail from the nest in search of a food source.

Recommendations for control: Identifying the nest is critical for control. Follow trails from food source back to the nest when possible. Indoors check all potted plants and remove any that are infested. Seal off all entries including electrical and utility lines coming into the house with caulk. Clean up food sources well and remove garbage. Use of a non-repellent pesticide along the trail and baits for the colony should help.

Outdoors be sure to cut back any vegetation coming into contact with the structure. Check along concrete and foundation edges as they are known to travel below the grass line when searching for a food source.

Typically the colony is so large that a call to a pest management professional is warranted.