Why Argentine Ant Pest Control? The Argentine Ant is a common pantry pest in Sevierville, TN, and surrounding areas. All About Bugs TN provides this information about Argentine Ant behavior, habitats, and prevention methods to help protect your home and health from this pantry-invasive pest.
To learn about other creatures inclined to invade your cupboards, read our article: Common Pantry Pests in Sevierville, TN – Awareness and Prevention Tips.
Argentine Ant
Scientific Name: Linepithema humile
Approximate Size:
Around 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length.
Color: Vary in color from light to dark brown
Number of Legs: 6
Antennae: Yes, segmented antennae without a distinct elbow, and the antennae usually have 12 segments.
Wings: Yes, reproductive ants (queens and males) have wings during specific stages of their lifecycle
Lifespan: Worker ants typically live for a few months, while queens can live for several years.
Lifecycle: Argentine ants undergo complete metamorphosis, consisting of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Colonies are founded by mated queens, and worker ants care for the brood.
Argentine Ant
Scientific Name: Linepithema humile
Approximate Size:
Around 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length.
Color: Vary in color from light to dark brown
Number of Legs: 6
Antennae: Yes, segmented antennae without a distinct elbow, and the antennae usually have 12 segments.
Wings: Yes, reproductive ants (queens and males) have wings during specific stages of their lifecycle
Lifespan: Worker ants typically live for a few months, while queens can live for several years.
Lifecycle: Argentine ants undergo complete metamorphosis, consisting of egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages. Colonies are founded by mated queens, and worker ants care for the brood.
Behavior and Habits
Argentine ants are known for forming massive colonies with multiple queens and interconnected nests. They are highly adaptable and can form supercolonies that span large areas. Argentine ants are omnivorous, feeding on food sources, including sweets, proteins, and plant exudates.
They are attracted to honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects, fostering mutualistic relationships with these insects. Argentine ants are also notorious for aggressive behavior towards other ant species, often outcompeting and displacing native ants. They tend to forage in long trails near moisture sources.
Do Argentine Ants Invade Kitchens and Pantries?
Yes, Argentine ants are known to invade kitchens and pantries. These ants are opportunistic foragers attracted to accessible food sources, including sweets, proteins, and fats. They are particularly fond of sugary substances and can enter homes searching for these food items.
Additionally, Argentine ants form extensive foraging trails, and once they find a reliable food source, they can quickly establish trails between their nests and the food location.
Their ability to form supercolonies that span large areas enhances their foraging capabilities, making them effective invaders of indoor spaces, including kitchens and pantries.
How to Prevent Argentine Ants From Invading Your Pantry
It is essential to practice good sanitation to prevent Argentine ants from invading these areas by keeping food sealed in airtight containers, cleaning up spills promptly, and eliminating potential entry points by sealing cracks or gaps in walls.
Additionally, addressing outdoor sources of attraction, such as aphids or honeydew-producing insects, can help reduce the likelihood of Argentine ant infestations.
Contact All About Bugs TN Pest Control Experts
If you have an Argentine ant problem, contact All About Bugs Pest TN Pest Control to help you manage and effectively control the infestation.
Finally, managing Argentine ant infestations can be challenging due to their large colony sizes and adaptability. Our integrated pest management strategies could help control and keep Argentine ant populations at bay.
Resources
Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. (2017). Key to Identifying Common Household Ants. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/argentine.html
Buczkowski, G., & Wossler, T. C. (2019). Controlling invasive Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, in conservation areas using horizontal insecticide transfer. Scientific Reports, 9.
Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. (2017). Argentine ant? Quick management tips. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/TOOLS/ANTKEY/argman.html
