Argentine Ants

What do Argentine ants look like?

Argentine ants, originally from South America, are now established in Louisiana and widespread throughout the southern states. They have also appeared in other parts of the United States. Worker Argentine ants are about 1/8 inch in length, while queens can grow up to 1/4 inch long. These small ants have shiny, dark brown to black bodies.

Are Argentine ants dangerous? 

Argentine ants do not pose any life-threatening risks to humans or animals. They can be a nuisance pest in homes and gardens because they can contaminate food and damage plants, among other issues.

Do Argentine ants cause damage?

You don't have to worry about Argentine ants destroying your home. They are not inherently destructive. They are not wood-destroying insects like carpenter ants and termites, nor will they damage furniture, fabrics, or other belongings like some pests are prone to do. 

What do Argentine ants eat?

Argentine ants are not picky. They consume honeydew, plant secretions, and even dead animals and insects outside. In homes, these pests feed on almost anything they can find, including cakes, grains, oils, fats, meat, dead insects, and sweet drinks.

What attracts Argentine ants?

Argentine ants, like many pests, are attracted to moisture and food. Active nests of Argentine ants send out scouts to search for these elements. These scouts crawl all over the place. If they find a gap, crack, or opening that leads into your home, they may crawl indoors. A scout informs its colony of a new food or moisture source by leaving behind an invisible pheromone trail. If Argentine ants continue to find what they need indoors, they will keep coming.

Where do Argentine ants nest?

Argentine ants build nests in various locations, favoring wet environments near food sources. They may construct nests under loose boards in your yard, around planter boxes, or along sidewalks. They might also come indoors and build nests around water-damaged wood inside wall voids. These insects are more likely to enter houses if their habitat is disturbed by weather or seasonal climate changes.

How big can Argentine ant colonies get?

Argentine ants are capable of building super colonies because they have multiple queens. Super colonies are formed when a single nest divides into clusters of multiple nests. These clusters then expand and merge into large social units, making it difficult to distinguish between individual nests. Some of the largest supercolonies can accommodate millions of different nests and hundreds of thousands of queens.

What are the signs of an Argentine ant infestation? 

Most pests leave signs behind when they invade homes, such as fecal droppings, urine, or shed skin. However, this is not the case for Argentine ants. The most common sign of an infestation is seeing the ants in your home.

If you notice small, dark brown, or black ants trailing through your home, you may have an active infestation. It's important to determine the type of ants you are dealing with by scheduling an inspection.

What is the best way to get rid of Argentine ants?

Eliminating Argentine ants on your own can be difficult due to the large number of ants in a colony and their network of colonies. The most effective solution for an Argentine ant infestation is to contact a professional pest control company.

At Anti-Pest, our locally owned and family-operated pest control company has been helping property owners in Shreveport and Bossier City, as well as throughout Bossier, Caddo, and DeSoto Parishes, eliminate pests for over 70 years. We have the expertise to handle Argentine ants! We offer home pest control services and commercial pest solutions that ensure Argentine ants and other pests will be exterminated.

How do I keep Argentine ants away? 

To make your property less appealing to Argentine ants, we recommend implementing the following ant prevention tips:  

• Address sources of moisture build-up.
• Make sure your gutters are working properly.
• Repair leaking pipes or fixtures.
• Seal potential entry points around your home’s foundation.
• Invest in weatherstripping and door sweeps to seal leaky doors and windows.
• Keep unscreened windows and doors closed when you are not using them.
• Clean up food messes and drink spills right after they occur.
• Store food inside air-tight containers.
• Make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids and keep bins clean.
• Reduce clutter around your property.

These prevention tips will not stop an active ant infestation. If you think you have an Argentine ant infestation, call a professional. Anti-Pest is here if you need help. Reach out today to schedule an appointment. We will send a pest control specialist your way.