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Argentine Ants

 

Characteristics 

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.

Habitat and Behavior

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.

 

Control

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);

(2) locating and treating existing colonies with Termidor (exterior), Demand, Suspend, Tempo, Delta dust, or Drione;

(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;

 

(5) As necessary, make applications of ant baits or non-repellent insecticides on the interior.  Baits such as  Advance Carpenter Ant Bait, Advance Ant Bait for small Ants, Maxforce CompleteGourmet Ant Bait Gel, or Gourmet Liquid Ant Bait.  Reliance on just one or two of the above steps will generally result in failure to provide any significant relief from interior infestations.


Argentine Ants Taking Advance
Carpenter Ant Bait

 


Install Antopia Ant Bait Stations on the exterior where ants are commonly seen foraging.  Antopia Stations are designed to hold 7 ounces of Gourmet Liquid Ant Bait, gel or granular bait in a spill-resistant configuration. However, if spill resistance is not a concern, the Antopia will hold up to 14 ounces of bait. The Antopia is built strong for multi-season use and cost effectiveness. Bait is sold separately.

 

 

Alpine Ant & Termite FoamNon-repellent insecticides such as Phantom, Alpine Foam, or Premise foam will also work well inside.  These powerful non-repellent ingredients will allow pests to forage right over it and then spread it to other insects hidden behind walls or in their home colony, killing every other pest they come in contact with.  These products are virtually odorless, clear in color and provides superior pest control with a long-lasting residual.

 

Recommended Ant Kit:  Indoor/Outdoor Ant Kit 

Indoor/Outdoor  Ant Kit For Small Household Ants
 

 

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 you know with some certainty where the colony is living inside, then you can treat them directly by drilling a small hole into the wall void at the base of the void (directly above the baseboard) and injecting a dust such as Delta Dust, DrionePhantom, Premise Foam, or Alpine Foam

 

 

 

 

 

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 intoWhite Crusader Duster those tight spots or hard to reach places. 

Note:  Use only one bulb duster for each formulation.  You don't want to contaminate your bait with an insecticide. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Tips On Baiting Ants!

 

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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