Argentine Ants

Return to Pest Gallery Argentine Ants

Argentine Ants are usually be found in moist soil, underneath buildings and near poured concrete such as patios or sidewalks. Argentine Ant colonies can be found in odd places such as potted plant soil. Because Argentine Ants relocate their nests often, to remain near food sources and in comfortable temperatures, they can be difficult to quickly locate and control.

Argentine Ants are usually only 1/16th of an inch long, and are light to dark brown in color. The ant's thorax joins the abdomen by a thin pedicel. There is no smell if one ant is crushed, however if many are crushed they can emit a musty smell.

Argentine ants are social insects, and no individual Argentine Ant can exist outside of its own colony or become part of another colony. Interestingly enough, although Argentine Ant colonies will not accept "foreign" colony ants, the different colonies will cooperate with each other. Argentine ants can be aggressive to other insects, including efficiently exterminating termite colonies and killing paper wasps or carpenter bees.

Argentine ants have a unique social structure in as much as Argentine ant colonies can have multiple queen ants. All male ants hatch from unfertilized eggs, and their only role is to mate with the queen ant(s). Fertilized eggs hatch into females, which are usually sterile worker ants.

Argentine Ants have two stomachs. One stomach is to feed itself, and the other is to feed other ants. The ant's digestive process turns food into liquid, which goes into their second stomach. To feed and be fed, two ants stand up with their mouths pressed together, and the liquified food comes out of one ant's stomach and into the other ant's mouth. This food transfer contains pheremones which can be smelled, and thereby facilitate communications between the ants. The pheromones communicate jobs needing to be done, excitement, danger, and also are used to attract mates.

The following links will take you to pages with information on other common types of ants in Georgia.

Getting rid of Argentine Ants can be very difficult for many home owners because failed attempts to kill Argentine Ants may cause the ants to relocate their colony or create multiple colonies. Getting rid of Argentine Ants usually requires the use of baits however it is important to get the right concentration of the poison. A low concentration will have no effect, too high of a concentration will kill the workers too soon, and the ants may then abandon the trail. Our ant control specialists can eliminate your Argentine Ant problem, and give you ideas on how to ant-proof your property.