4 replies to this topic

[dmcccdmn]

These ants recently invaded my house although I've seen them in the backyard for a while. These ants are very very fast and easily startle when I breathe over them. They come out both day and night. They seem to be black color with the naked eyes. I'm already having a hard time getting rid of grease/thief ants in the house for a while and now this second invasion. Help!

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Edited by dmcccdmn, August 11 2015 - 9:24 PM.

[dspdrew]

Looks like Linepithema humile (Argentine Ants). Where are you located?

[dmcccdmn]

I am in SF Bay Area. I looked up Linepithema humile and it does look like it. You are good. Looks like this species is known to be found in California:

 

 

Yesterday, I managed to kill the queen when it emerged from its nest. But from wikipedia, it looks like this species has many queen in each colony, so eliminating one queen does not kill the colony. That is really too bad. I am currently using Terro with limited success in drawing it to feed on it.

 

Thank you for helping to ID it.

[LC3]

Argentine ants also have some of the largest super colonies of all ants, currently there seems to be 2 major super colonies one of which spreaded all over the world.

[dspdrew]

Oh this species is infamous in California. If you are anywhere but far away from any human development (particularly irrigation), you will probably see them more than any other species.