Argentine Ants Argentine ants (Iridomyrmex humilis) are small South American natives that were inadvertently brought into the United States in the 1890s. They are light to dark brown in color and will nest most anywhere, such as along edges of lawns and under and between shrubs, in cracks of concrete, under rocks and in homes. There may be several hundred egg-laying queens, and nests are often connected with trails that the ants almost continuously travel. Many of the ants in the colonies die during the winter months, but starting in the spring the numbers of worker ants increase until their maximum is reached during the late summer and fall. Below the 2,000 to 2,500 foot elevations Argentine ants are rampant during that time of year! They are most fond of sweet material but can be found dining on meats, fruits, and insects or just gathering around water at the bottom of the sink. Depending upon your outlook, their shear numbers and multiple colonies make them either worthy adversaries or a royal pain in the you-know-what. Complete control is often achieved only through laboriously finding and eliminating each of the offending colonies.
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 04:06:05 +0000
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