Argentine Ants

Description: The Argentine Ant worker is small (about one eighth of an inch long) and dark brown. Winged forms are rarely seen.

Argentine Ants are common in the Southern parts of the United States, particularly the state of California. They have damaged many native Californian species of ants, as well as other native animals.

Argentine Ants live in large colonies and often form sub-colonies, still in touch with the original mother-colony. Some researchers believe that California contains a network of sub-colonies, all relating to one original Argentine ant colony.

Argentine ants are predators that feed on other insects, including many pests (termites, other ants and even cockroaches), however their prefered food is honeydew from small leaf insects such as aphids. As the honeydew supply decreases, Argentine ants are more likely to invade houses in search of sweet food sources.

Pest Control Tips for dealing with Argentine Ants -

You should never use spray or dust directly on colonies of Argentine ants. This won't destroy the colony and is likely to cause it to send out some of the ants to colonize nearby areas. The most effective treatment is using a slow working ant bait. With a slow acting bait, the foraging ants will carry some of the bait into the nest and spread it among the other ants, including the queens. Allow  a few days to a few weeks for this solution to take effect.