How to Control Argentine Ants | Gardener's Path

Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, are among the most problematic of ant pests, listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world’s worst invasive species.

Unlike most ant species that have only one queen, Argentine ants can have multiple queens. In addition, they can rapidly establish more colonies close to the original nest.

This means that you can have a web of interconnected nests that can spread over 650 feet (200 meters) in a single year!

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Argentine ant colonies can become so large that they can take over whole city blocks. According to an article by the BBC, there is a supercolony in southern Europe that spreads for more than 3,700 miles. That’s a lot of insects.

These pests can be extremely difficult to eradicate. We have reviewed the control measures you can take and help you to determine when you need to seek the help of professional exterminators.

These light- to dark-brown insects are about 2.2 – 2.8 millimeters long and all the workers are the same size.

A number of factors differentiate this species from other types of ants. They have five to eight large teeth on their mandibles, and they lack a stinger.

Their antennae have 12 segments, and the first one is as long as their head. Their hind body is separated from the front section of their body by one node.

Unlike most ants, their trails are often comprised of at least five individuals traveling side by side. You can see these trails moving up buildings and trees in search of food.

In addition, when you crush one, it will smell musty instead of acidic like most other ant