Argentine Ant

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Linepithema humile: //lɪnˌɛpɪˈθiːmə ˈhjuːmaɪl//

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Summary

The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is a small invasive ant species originally from South America that has spread globally. They form large colonies with several queens and have become significant pests in urban and agricultural areas, displacing native ant species and impacting ecosystems.

Physical Characteristics

Small-bodied (2.2–2.6 mm); dull light to dark brown in color; body slender with an oval to triangular-shaped head; mandibles with two large apical teeth followed by a series of denticles; petiole erect; usually uniformly light to medium brown, which can appear almost black at a distance.

Identification Tips

Look for slender body shape and the absence of erect hairs on the dorsum of the alitrunk.

Habitat

Nests in soil, rotten wood, standing dead trees, refuse piles, bird nests, bee hives, under pots or stepping stones, and various other places, both sheltered and exposed.

Distribution

Native to northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and southern Brazil. Introduced globally, thriving in many Mediterranean climate areas including South Africa, New Zealand, Japan, Easter Island, Australia, the Azores, Europe, Hawaii, and the continental United States.

Diet

Omnivorous; particularly fond of sweets but will consume a large variety of food.

Life Cycle

Winged queens mate once with a winged male and can produce fertile eggs for up to 10 years. The grublike larvae are fed and tended by workers until they pupate and emerge.

Reproduction

Several productive queens can share the same colony, and colonies can undergo 'budding' to form new colonies when overcrowded. The production of males depends on food availability for the larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Invasive species that can displace native ant species and negatively impact native arthropods and subsequent food webs.

Economic Impact

Considered a major pest in agricultural and urban settings, imposing substantial costs due to their invasive nature and displacement of native species.

Collecting Methods

• Trapping with foods or pheromones as bait
• Direct manual collection

Evolution

First described in 1866; underwent taxonomic changes from Iridomyrmex to its current genus, Linepithema, in the early 1990s.

Misconceptions

The common belief that all ants are aggressive; Argentine ants often coexist in large supercolonies without aggression toward each other.

Tags

• invasive species
• ant
• Linepithema humile
• pest control