A1 SUPERHEROES PEST SOLUTIONS

WHAT ARE ARGENTINE ANTS: The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is among the world’s most notorious, successful and well-studied invasive ant species. Argentine Ants are a non indigenous species of ants to South Florida, they were introduced to the United States from South America including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and southern Brazil in 1890 and have since spread through out the southern states. Argentine Ants have different behaviors, feeding habits, reproduction and nesting habits. Argentine ants are a nondescript, soft-bodied, small (2.2–2.6 mm), dull light to dark brown ant with large inset eyes. Argentine ants thrive in Mediterranean climates, and over the past century they have spread across the globe by human-mediated transport to Chile, western and southern North America, Hawaii, Florida, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Africa, and southern Europe. Argentine ants are significant pests, and are documented to cause substantial harm to humane populated communities, vertebrate communities and plant communities. Argentine ants are also significant agricultural pests.

 

WHAT MAKES ARGENTINE ANTS DIFFERENT FROM OUTHER ANTS: Argentine ants nest in the ground, along foundations of buildings and underneath building foundations. Only a small portion of the ants ever leave the nest. About 60% of the ant colony spends their entire life inside of the nest tending to the reproduction of the young. The other 40% are none as drones, or workers that go out and forage for food to bring back to the nest. If the workers are killed off and don’t return to the nest, it signals the rest of the colony that there is danger. This creates something called budding. Budding is when all of the queens begin to reproduce at accelerated rates for survival of the colony. Argentine Ants build what’s none as super colonies that can easily range in the millions.

 

WHY ARE ARGENTINE ANTS SO DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF: Argentine Ant colonies are often considered supper colonies because of the massive reproduction they are able to under take. Their colonies will often range in the millions. Because Argentine Ants nest under foundations there is no possible way of getting an effective chemical to them, so they have to be drawn out of the ground from underneath concrete slabs with special baits. This can take time because of the massive size of the colonies.

 

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF ARGENTINE ANTS: The only effective method of eradication is to use special baits in conjunction with other methods. With out the proper baiting systems in place the Argentine Ant problem will only get worse. Using repellent chemical treatments will cause the process called budding to begin.  

 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET RID OF ARGENTINE ANTS: This all depends on how long you have had a problem, how large the colony has grown and where the colony is located. In some cases the problem can be taken care of in a week to 10 days, in many cases it can take as long as months.

 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP SPEAD UP THE PROCESS: As a resident in a structure that is being treated for Argentine Ants, the best thing you can do is nothing and have patience. In many cases getting rid of Argentine ants can take some time. After our treatment is complete, you are likely to see an increase in activity of live and dead ants. This is normal!

 

Since this ant reproduces so prolifically, and nest sites are often protected by being under objects, lawns and flowerbeds will probably need to be treated at least four to five times per year at maximum label rates. One-time treatments for the BHA will be of very limited value.