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Ants |
Argentine Ants
Size: About 1/8-inch long. Color: Brown. It is most often confused with the odorous house ant, but the node of the Argentine ant has a sharp, pointed peak, while that of the odorous house ant is flat in shape and is hidden by the gaster. A MAJOR pest for you folks in Southern and Northern California. This species is common in the Southeastern US, and is a major problem in Southern California. A 1990 survey of urban pest ants in California showed this ant to comprise 25% of all samples collected. This ant nests outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, beneath loose bark on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants, and within piles of items, such as lumber, firewood, or under slabs of homes. Like the odorous house ant, the argentine ant may nest indoors, in walls, beneath carpeting, and other suitable voids or spaces. Argentine Ants may develop super huge colonies containing thousands of workers and possibly thousands of queens. This species may be one of the most difficult to control. One reason these ants are so successful is due to the fact that worker ants of individual colonies are friendly towards one another, and colonies will join together to form super colonies. When argentine ant colonies are killed or removed from the area, they can be quickly repopulated by ants from colonies on neighboring properties. An Argentine ant colony can suffer the loss of 99% of the colony's individuals, and the colony can still survive and rebuild. No significant natural enemy of this species currently exists in the United States.
This ant can be difficult to control because it establishes multiple sub colonies and may nest in such a wide variety of sites. For our Indoor/Outdoor Ant Control Kit, click here. The keys to a successful argentine ant management program include the following five steps: (1) correcting any conditions conducive to the infestation (unnecessary harborage, sanitation);
(3) service the property regularly to detect and eliminate any new colonies; (4) application of perimeter treatments with Termidor, Demand, Suspend, Tempo, or Talstar G;
Recommended Ant Kit: Indoor/Outdoor Ant Kit
Lets go into a little more detail on each of the above: (1) Correcting conditions- eliminate any moisture problems such
as leaks or excessive moisture around the foundation. Eliminate any food
sources, including honeydew associated with
aphids. Branches of
trees and shrubs need to be kept cut away from the structure. Cracks in the
structure need to be sealed. if possible, a vegetation-free border should be
created around the base of the foundation to make the area less attractive to
ants and to allow for easier inspection of the foundation. This zone should be
free of bark or mulch, and should consist of gravel or small stone. Remove all
harborage such as leaves, trash, mulch, firewood, bricks or lumber. (2) Locate and treat colonies- Drench colonies living in the soil or under items on the exterior with Termidor, Demand, Suspend, or Tempo. With mulch, be sure to rake it back so you can get good penetration where colonies may be thriving. Follow up with a broadcast application of granule such as Talstar G.
If the colony cannot be located, baits such as Advance Granular, Maxforce Gel, or Gourmet Ant Bait Gel can be applied to areas where ants are foraging.
(3) Service the property regularly- Inspect and service the property regularly to detect and treat any new colonies. (4) Regular perimeter treatments- Treat the outside foundation regularly to establish a barrier that will keep ants away and out of the structure. Note- Always do a thorough inspection before doing any treatments. If you note ants entering the structure from the outside, you may want to consider baiting in this area, as a pesticide may break off or trap the colony inside. (5) Bait applications on the interior- Baits should be employed when inside colonies cannot be located and/or when combined with the strategies already mentioned. Baits such as: Advance Carpenter Ant Bait, Maxforce Gel, Gourmet Ant Bait Gel, Gourmet Liquid Ant Bait Stations
Use the Crusader or
B&G Bulb Duster to apply your dusts or baits
into Note: Use only one bulb duster for each formulation. You don't want to contaminate your bait with an insecticide.
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Regular inspections and service are necessary to find and treat new colonies as they move in from neighboring properties. These perimeter treatments can keep your home or business pest free. We suggest a regular treatment on the exterior with Demand, Tempo, or Suspend. General tips for limiting ant infestations include: Eliminate piles of lumber, bricks, or other debris that could serve as a nesting site for ants. Keep landscape mulch less than 2 inches thick and at least 12 inches away from foundations. Ensure the sprinkler system does not spray directly onto the foundation. Seal as many cracks in the building's exterior as possible. Keep tree and shrub branches cut away from touching the building. Consider re-landscaping to avoid using plants that are prone to aphids and similar insects. At the very least, treat such plants for aphids regularly.
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