Argentine Ants
Argentine ants are the most common pest ant species in California. They are 2.2 to 2.6 millimeters long. They range in color from light brown to nearly black in color. They have no natural enemies in the U.S. This species frequently supplant all other ants when they have invaded a specific piece of ground.
Their colonies often contain thousands of members. When one colony encounters another colony of Argentine ants they do not battle. It is not uncommon for several colonies to combine and form one large super colony. In some instances the queens can number in the 100's. If the queens are killed in one section of a large colony these ants will try to replace them from another area.
Improper control measures can cause colonies to splinter. When this occurs each individual colony will maximize its breeding potential and increase the total number of ants both inside and outside a structure.
This ant is a true omnivore and will feed on nearly any food source. Like all creatures ants require water. This requirement allows better targeting for control in structures.
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