Argentine Ant

Argentine ant colonies can grow to monumental size. A single colony can contain several hundred thousand workers with the colony borders sometimes cover entire habitats. This dark brown to black ants give off a musty odor when crushed.

Pest Description:

• Color: Light to shiny dark brown
• Legs: 6
• Shape: Segmented and oval
• Size: 1/16" - 1/4"
• Antennae: Elbowed with 12-segmented antenna with no club
• Region: Throughout the southeastern United States and California.
• Habits: Argentine ants usually nest outdoors near a food source. By depositing trails of food from the nest to food source they prevent wasted time revisiting the same area for food. Argentine ants will eat almost anything including meats, eggs, oils and fats but prefer sweets and become major pests when they forage for food indoors.
• Habitat: Argentine ant colonies are located in wet environments near a food source. Outdoors, they usually build shallow nests under boards or stones, beneath plants or alongside sidewalks. Argentine ants are very mobile and often seek shelter indoors when it becomes too wet or too dry outside.
• Threats: Argentine ants are not a health threat, but they can contaminate food.