What are Argentine ants?
Argentine ants are an aggressive species of ant that are native to Argentina. Quickly spreading across the globe to Mediterranean climates, these ants are now located in South Africa, Australia, Japan, and the continental United States.
There are several ways to identify Argentine ants in your yard or garden:
- Small dark brown to black bodies less than 1/8 of an inch long
- Large ant colonies in yards or gardens, typically with multiple queens
- An absence of aggression between separate Argentine ant colonies, sometimes leading to ‘supercolonies.’
- Heavy activity inside your home or business, especially during the summer months
If you think or know that Argentine ants have taken up residence in your yard, you need to reach out to a professional pest control company in California immediately.
Are Argentine ants dangerous?
Despite their small sizes and infrequent bites, Argentine ants remain ranked in the top 100 worst invasive species in the world. These creatures infest properties with extreme aggression and eliminate habitat spaces for native ants.
Argentine ants can also decrease the amount of native plants, animals, and pollinators in a given area. By consuming eggs and larvae during hatching seasons, they disrupt natural ecosystems and prevent flowering plants from producing food.
Argentine ants contribute to ecological destruction in other ways as well. Since they also ‘farm’ aphid populations to harvest honeydew for their colonies, these ants may contribute to crop losses and destroy the profits of agricultural operations.
Why do I have an Argentine ant problem?
Argentine ants are naturally drawn to hot, humid climates with plenty of water. Life in California is perfect for these pests, making your home or business a target whether you like it or not. Riparian habitats are typically their first choice, although the sides of pools and lakes also provide a suitable place to live.
You should know there are certain attractant factors that could make your property more appealing to Argentine ants. A constant source of food and water, for example, makes it easy for large colonies to settle down. A home with overgrown shrubbery, plenty of pest prey, and vulnerable entry points may be an easy target for these tiny ants.
Keep in mind that regular irrigation (such as turning on the sprinklers) may encourage Argentine ant infestations on your property. The constant availability of water also feeds pest prey, which creates a cycle of infestation that’s difficult to stop without professional assistance.
Where will I find Argentine ants?
You can find Argentine ants both inside and outside of your property. Outside, they typically prefer moist, shady areas such as the base of trees, firewood piles, and the undersides of rocks. Instead, they prefer humid spaces with plenty of available water, including near sinks, water pipes, and potted plants.
Some Argentine ants live outside the home and ‘commute’ inside for food and water sources. These ants are notorious for their sweet tooth and can push themselves through even the tiniest gaps in the hopes of getting a crumb of food.
How do I get rid of Argentine ants?
Argentine ants are no ordinary pests, which means they require much more than ordinary pest control. DIY methods often prove ineffective, while over-the-counter treatments do little to stop infestations for good.
If you’re serious about putting a stop to your Argentine ant infestation, you need to get in touch with the professionals behind A-1 Bonded Termite. We are Anaheim’s trusted provider of all things ant control – and our five-star reviews prove we’re ahead of the pack.
The team behind A-1 Bonded Termite is no stranger to the dangers of Argentine ants, and we promise to do everything in our power to facilitate a simple and easy removal process. Commanding 45+ years of industry experience, we’ve helped hundreds of customers all over the area with fast and efficient ant control services.
You can contact the team at A-1 Bonded Termite to get a quote for Argentine ant control today.
How can I prevent Argentine ants in the future?
Here is how to get rid of Argentine ants near your California home:
- Keep potential food sources to a minimum. Outside the house, minimize organic debris. Inside, get rid of any filled garbage bags, clean up crumbs and spills, and don’t leave any food out on the counter.
- Manage the moisture levels around your home. You may want to remove standing water outside to prevent waterlogged soil from attracting ants. You can also address leaky pipes and clogged drains to ward off interior infestations.
- Remove miscellaneous attractant factors from the property. First, store firewood at least 25 feet away from the building. Then, trim trees, shrubs, and other vegetation to a more manageable height.
For local pest control services you can trust, contact the professionals at A-1 Bonded Termite.