![]() ![]() Even then, colonies often stay physically in touch with each other. ![]() However, queens can leave their nests with a group of workers-a natural dispersal technique called budding-to start a new colony if they deem it too crowded. ![]() Instead, they stick with the colony in their respective nests to mate. As colonies can grow to numbers in the tens of thousands, hundreds of queens could exist across large areas of land, sometimes hundreds of miles long.ĭuring the reproduction cycle, Argentine ants don’t swarm as other ant species do. Featuring more queens per colony than any other species of ants, Argentine ants can have nearly 15 queens for every 1,000 workers and can produce eggs for up to 10 years after mating-allowing the colony to flourish rapidly and consistently. ![]() The key to Argentine ants’ success lies with their superior ability to reproduce and coexist with members of their own kind from different colonies. Native to South American countries like Argentina (hence their name), they accidentally made their way to the United States by boarding cargo ships in Brazil-containing shipments of coffee beans-and traveling to New Orleans in the late 1800s, allowing them to inhabit six of the seven continents around the world. Nearly two centuries ago, Argentine ants made their way to North America via long-distance jump dispersion due to increased trade and globalization. Masters of propagating their kind, Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) build massive colonies, disrupt the natural order of other species, and intervene in our daily lives with their sheer numbers. But what has made these insects such a widespread concern in our region? And why do you have these antsin your area? Argentine Ants: Southern California’s Insect InvadersĪs one of the most pervasive creatures around the globe, Argentine ants’ path to world domination hasn’t gone unnoticed-especially in San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties. If you happen to spot a trail of ants in your home or business, the Argentine ant is likely the culprit. ![]()
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