Small Ants
Invading Your Home: Most Likely They Are Argentines Ants
Many homeowners are observing excessive numbers of small ants invade
their homes. These are Argentine ants, and they do not sting; however, their
presence can be a nuisance. Argentine ants are originally from South America,
and they became established in the United States over a century ago. They are
1/16 to 1/8 inch in length and are light brown. The ants crawl in long,
well-organized trails, sometimes over 200 feet long as they forage for food. A
mature colony can have over one million ants and multiple queens. They begin
migrating indoors during the fall seeking food, water, and shelter from the
cold. Controlling Argentine ants can be challenging, but eliminating their
nesting areas outside and controlling those that have entered your home will
help reduce their populations.
Outdoors, they build their nest in leaf litter, piles of firewood, vegetation, mulch, and other areas that provide an abundance of moisture and organic material. Thoroughly inspect the sides of your home and remove these nesting sites. Also, trim vegetation and pull the mulch back at least 18 inches away from the structure. Check for cracks, crevices, and other points of entry on the structure and then seal them up. Clean out your gutters and fix any leaking pipes or faucets. Make sure you put the household garbage in a thoroughly sealed container. Outside your home, apply an appropriately labeled insecticide directly to the nests.
Inside your home, clean up and eliminate food sources that are attracting the ants. Make sure all food products are stored either in the refrigerator or in airtight containers. Clean up spilled drinks and food. Baits, which are composed of a poison incorporated into a food source that the ants consume, is the preferred method of treating the ants inside the house. Baits pose little risk of poisoning humans if used properly. Small bait stations, such as the Combat and Raid products, should be placed on or near the ant trail. The ants to take the bait back to their nests, where they share it with other ants and the queens. Remember to follow all label directions and safety precautions when using pesticides.
Argentine ants can be quite troublesome and difficult to control. If you are unable to rid your home of these ants in spite of taking measures to reduce their population consider hiring a pest control professional. They have the experience and knowledge of appropriate control measures with access to specialized equipment. To find one, go to the website of the Georgia Pest Control Association at www.gpca.org/.
Outdoors, they build their nest in leaf litter, piles of firewood, vegetation, mulch, and other areas that provide an abundance of moisture and organic material. Thoroughly inspect the sides of your home and remove these nesting sites. Also, trim vegetation and pull the mulch back at least 18 inches away from the structure. Check for cracks, crevices, and other points of entry on the structure and then seal them up. Clean out your gutters and fix any leaking pipes or faucets. Make sure you put the household garbage in a thoroughly sealed container. Outside your home, apply an appropriately labeled insecticide directly to the nests.
Inside your home, clean up and eliminate food sources that are attracting the ants. Make sure all food products are stored either in the refrigerator or in airtight containers. Clean up spilled drinks and food. Baits, which are composed of a poison incorporated into a food source that the ants consume, is the preferred method of treating the ants inside the house. Baits pose little risk of poisoning humans if used properly. Small bait stations, such as the Combat and Raid products, should be placed on or near the ant trail. The ants to take the bait back to their nests, where they share it with other ants and the queens. Remember to follow all label directions and safety precautions when using pesticides.
Argentine ants can be quite troublesome and difficult to control. If you are unable to rid your home of these ants in spite of taking measures to reduce their population consider hiring a pest control professional. They have the experience and knowledge of appropriate control measures with access to specialized equipment. To find one, go to the website of the Georgia Pest Control Association at www.gpca.org/.
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Though they do not bite, Argentine ants can become a nuisance and have colonies of a large number of ants. Photograph by Whitney Crenshaw, Colorado State University, Budgwood.org.
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| Long trails of many ants are common with Argentine ants. Photograph by Joe Laforest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org. |
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