Pest Library
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All it takes is one pest sighting to ruin the reputation you’ve worked so hard to build.
Argentine Ant
Iridomyrmex humilis, Mayr
Argentine ants are plant parasites, causing damage to crops and other agriculture. They have also been known to damage air conditioners, heat pumps, telephone junction boxes, traffic lights, gasoline pumps, and so on. They are attracted by electrical currents and when they become lodged or electrocuted by these objects it can cause a malfunction
RISK LEVEL:
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
Risk is defined as how much damage each pest can be to you, your family, or your home
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| Class: | Order: | Family: | |
| Insecta | Hymenoptera | Formicidae | |
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| Size: | Argentine ant workers are about 1/16 in (2.2-2.6 mm) long. Queens are about 1/8-1/4 in (4-6 mm) long. |
| Color: | Light to dark brown |
| Characteristics: | Argentine ants have a small, uniform size and are a plain brown color. Their bodies are an uneven shape with a larger head and thin thorax. When squashed, they give off a stale scent. |
| Geographic Range: | Native to Argentina and Brazil, but probably brought to U.S. on coffee ships before 1891. Argentine ants are now found in southern U.S. and in California, with isolated infestations in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon, Washington. |
| Food: | Argentine ants follow regular trails, and are often found outside near insects such as aphids, that produce a honey-like secretion, called honeydew. They like sweets best, but also feed on oil, fats, meat. |
| Biology: | Colonies have many queens, and hundreds, or up to several thousand, workers. The numbers change depending upon the time of year. Overwintering nests are formed by colonies joining together. Different colonies get along with each other, but Argentine ants are aggressive towards other ant species and usually get rid of them. Mating takes place in the nest, so winged reproductive females are not often seen. Development from egg to adult takes an average of 74 days. |
- Look for congregations around spills, especially sweet..
- May notice a foul smell if these ants are squashed.
- May notice these ants in electrical areas.