Argentine Ant Identification & Prevention

Argentine ants are a small, unassuming species of ant that is a shiny dark brown to black color. Workers grow to about 1/16 of an inch in length. When crushed, they produce an unpleasant musty odor. One of the most common ways to identify them is by their large colony sizes and the wide trails they travel together when out foraging for food.

While Argentine ants are capable of delivering bites, this behavior is not a big concern for people. Their aggressive behavior is generally towards other ant species. Argentine ants are non-native ants and often drive native species out of the areas they move into.

Although mainly nuisance ants, preventing Argentine ants from taking up residence on your property or in your home is important. They live in large colonies and are difficult to control once they are nesting on your property. Inside homes, they contaminate food and spread bacteria over surfaces.

Additionally, Argentine ants are very attracted to areas of moisture. Having these ants present in or around your home may be an indicator of a moisture issue.

Argentine ants can become a problem in any yard that provides them with easy access to food and shelter. They are scavengers, and while they feed on almost anything, they do prefer sweets and honeydew produced by tiny garden pests like aphids.

 Unfortunately, they usually place their nests close to our homes. While they forage for food or to escape dry weather conditions, these ants will move indoors through any small opening they find in exterior walls or the foundation.

People regularly see Argentine ants traveling together in long trails on sidewalks, along fence lines, and across utility lines and tree branches while searching for food. They like to place their nests in the damp soil along the foundation of buildings, under landscape ties, fallen trees, woodpiles, or rocks. If they have moved inside, they build their nests behind walls or under floors located near water pipes or sinks. They also like to nest behind large appliances and sometimes inside potted plants.

Acquiring help from a professional pest control expert is the best way to eliminate Argentine ants and keep them from returning. At Albemarle Termite & Pest Control, our technicians are highly trained and dedicated to providing safe and effective pest control services in Elizabeth City that are affordable. We are a local, family-owned pest control company whose number one priority is putting our customers first and exceeding expectations.

For home or business owners looking to eliminate pests from their property once and for all, call Albemarle Termite & Pest Control today!

To help protect your North Carolina property from Argentine ants, consider putting into place the following prevention measures.

• Remove fallen trees and excess piles of wood from your yard.
• Do not overwater your lawn, garden, or plants.
• Leave a crushed stone barrier between any mulch or soil and the foundation.
• Fix leaky pipes, hoses, and fixtures.
• Make sure gutters are working to direct water away from the outside of your home.
• Caulk any open spaces in foundations and exterior walls.
• Remove any wood from your home or property damaged by water.
• Use dehumidifiers to keep basements and other areas of your home dry.