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ARGENTINE ANT

 

Linepithema humile (Mayr 1808) -- Hymenoptera:   Formicidae

 

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       The Argentine ant invaded from tropical northern Argentina around the Parana River, and now it is distributed globally in urban, natural, and agricultural habitats with mild winters.  Its low intraspecific aggression allows these ants to form large colonies.  When they occur on plants they protect pest insects that produce honeydew, which then serves as a prized food source.  The first record of this ant in California is from 1907, after which is spread around the state.  Although it does not sting or harm humans, instead, it is most annoying in dwellings where large numbers gather around unprotected food.  Outdoors large colonies may be found underneath stones and potted plants.  When the ants protect harmful insects for their honeydew, natural enemy activity is curtailed, which then can lead to economic losses in commercial orchards.

 

       There have been no specific natural enemies of the Argentine ant found., which leaves only chemical and cultural methods to deploy.  Poison baits that are developed for the fire ant in the southeastern United States are effective in holding numbers down if the baits are distributed monthly around the base of dwellings.

 

       Following the onset of an extended drought in 2014, Argentine ants have increased their population density inside houses of some urban areas of inland southern California.  Correspondingly, a noticeable decrease in termite activity was then observed.  It may be possible that as the ants search for food in homes they may also be harassing termites in their colonies or even feeding on various termite developmental stages.  Therefore, biological control studies with the Argentine ant may yield information for termite control.

 

  REFERENCES:

 

Abril, S.; J. Oliveras. & C. Gómez.  2007.  Foraging activity and dietary spectrum of the Argentine ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in invaded natural areas of the northeast Iberian Peninsula.  Environmental Entomology. 36 (5):  1166–1173.

 

Abril, SilviaJordi Oliveras & Crisanto Gómez.  2010.  Effect of Temperature on the Development and Survival of the Argentine Ant,  Linepithema humile.  Journal of Insect Science Vol. 10 (97):  1-13.

 

Alder, Patricia & Jules Silverman.  2005.  Effects of Interspecific Competition Between Two Urban Ant Species,  Linepithema humile and Monomorium minimum, on Toxic Bait Performance. Journal of Economic Entomology Vol. 98 (2):  493-501.

 

Brightwell, R. J., P. E. Labadie & J. Silverman.  2010.  Northward Expansion of the Invasive Linepithema humile  (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Eastern United States is Constrained by Winter Soil Temperatures.  Environmental Entomology Vol. 39 (5):  1659-1665.

 

Carpintero, S.,  J. RetanaX. CerdáJ. Reyes-López & L. Arias de Reyna.  2007.  Exploitative Strategies of the Invasive Argentine Ant, Linepithema humile, and Native Ant Species in a Southern Spanish Pine Forest.  Environmental Entomology Vol. 36 (5):  1100-1111.

 

EllisBrittany R., Eric P. BensonPatricia A. Zungoli  & William C. Bridges.  2008.  Evaluation of Chemical Control Strategies for Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South Carolina State Park Campgrounds.  Journal of Agricultural and Urban Entomology Vol. 25 (4):  223-232.

 

Kabashima, J. N., L. GreenbergM. K. Rust & T. D. Paine.  2007.  Aggressive Interactions between Solenopsis invicta and Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Under Laboratory Conditions.  Journal of Economic Entomology Vol. 100 (1):  148-154.

 

Markin, George P.  1969.   The Seasonal Life Cycle of the Argentine Ant In Southern California.  Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 63 (5):  1238.

 

Martinez, Michael J. & Eric M. Weis.  2011.  Field observations of two species of invasive ants Linepithema humile Mayr, 1868 and Tetramorium bicarinatum Nylander, 1846 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), at a suburban park in Southern California.  The Pan-Pacific Entomologist Vol. 87 (1):  57-61.

 

Orr, M. R.,  S. H. SeikeW. W. Benson & D. L. Dahlsten.  2001.  Host Specificity of Pseudacteon (Diptera: Phoridae) Parasitoids That Attack Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South America.  Environmental Entomology Vol. 30 (4):  741-747.

 

Powell, Bradford E. & Jules Silverman.  2010.  Population Growth of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the Presence of  Linepithema humile and Tapinoma sessile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).  Environmental Entomology Vol. 39 (5):  1492-1499.

 

Scocco, C. M., D. R. SuiterW. A. Gardner.  2012.  Repellency of Five Essential Oils to Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).  Journal of Entomological Science Vol. 47 (2):  150-159.

 

Tsutsui, Neil D.; Andrew V. Suarez; David A. Holway & Ted J. Case.  2001.  Relationships among native and introduced populations of the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) and the source of introduced populations (PDF).  Molecular Ecology. 10 (9):  2151–2161.

 

Wild, Alexander L.  2004.  Taxonomy and distribution of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae.    Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 97 (6):  1204–1215.