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Got ants? Ever had ants?
The more you know about Argentine ants the better you’ll be able to keep them from becoming pests. The Argentine ant is the most common ant in California. It is a small, dark-colored ant about 3 mm (1/8 inch) long that invades homes in search of food and water. They are especially fond of sweets, but will feed on practically any food.
photo by Jack Kelly Clark
Argentine ant
| • | Argentine ants actually perform a useful function. They clean up and recycle all kinds of animal and plant debris. They also help aerate the soil. |
| • | Argentine ants also pose an environmental problem because they are displacing many kinds of native ants throughout California. |
| • | Don’t even bother trying to get rid of Argentine ants outside! There are too many of them and it’s a waste of money. It’s better to focus on keeping them out of our homes and buildings. |
Having problems with ants? Here are some helpful hints:
| • | Empty your trash often and make sure your house is free of crumbs and food particles that might attract ants. Make sure that food containers are tightly closed, without residual traces of the food on the sides of containers. These ants can even get into screw-top jars without seals. They follow the spiral threads until they are inside. |
| • | Remove ant scouts. They mark a path for the other ants to follow. |
| • | If an ant trail does occur, follow it to the entry point before treating the problem. |
| • | Check vents and cracks in the exterior of your home or building. |
| • | Seal the entry point either temporarily with tape or permanently with caulk. |
| • | Remove the trail with a vacuum or with soapy water and a sponge. |
| • | If the problem persists, place ant bait on the line of the trail, being careful that it will not be accessible to pets and/or children. |
photo by Jack Kelly Clark
Ant stake: enclosed pesticide bait
containing arsenic or other poison.
| • | Remove the ant bait when the trail disappears. Otherwise, you may attract more ants to the bait! |
| • | Repair gaps around doors and windows, otherwise more ants may be attracted to the bait. |
Facts on Ant Baits
| • | The amount of pesticide used in an ant bait station is very, very small in comparison to the amount that may be used to treat the perimeter of a your home. |
| • | Ant baits are safer and more effective than spray pesticides because the ants carry the poison back to feed to the whole colony |
| • | Ant baits will take 7 to 10 days to work. |
| • | Ant baits are self-contained and pose less risk to you and the environment. |
For information in a printer friendly brochure, go to Ants
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