{"id":11738,"date":"2020-08-23T06:16:32","date_gmt":"2020-08-22T20:16:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/?page_id=11738"},"modified":"2025-03-31T10:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T23:26:10","slug":"argentine-ant","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/argentine-ant\/","title":{"rendered":"Argentine ant (<i>Linepithema humile<\/i>)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"11738\" class=\"elementor elementor-11738\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3e16935b elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"3e16935b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-641f3433\" data-id=\"641f3433\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-764bb7f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"764bb7f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Argentine ant (<i>Linepithema humile<\/i>)<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b26ea58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b26ea58\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-15bf59a\" data-id=\"15bf59a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23ba270 elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"23ba270\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c463545 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c463545\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1152be0\" data-id=\"1152be0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-dfd1836 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dfd1836\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d8a893\" data-id=\"3d8a893\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2abff8fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2abff8fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" src=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11369\" alt=\"Argentine ant queen and worker image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-285x190.jpg 285w, https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/Argentine-ant-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-c67bb5a\" data-id=\"c67bb5a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f584912 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f584912\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pest Snapshot - Argentine Ant<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c381e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c381e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"text-align: center;\"><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Scientific name: <\/b><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Linepithema humile<\/span><\/em><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Identification:<\/strong> Mid-Brown. Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm. Create obvious foraging trails.<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health threat: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Bite \/ sting pain:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Mild bite, but no sting. (Quite aggressive)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Difficulty to control: <\/b>Difficult<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Diet: <\/b>Ominvore, but mainly protein and honeydew<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Nest locations: <\/strong>Outside in leaf-litter and under objects<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Colony structure:<\/strong> Multi-queen, multi-nest<\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Main pest season: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summer \/ Autumn<\/span><\/li><li style=\"text-align: left;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Indoor\/Outdoor pest: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outdoors and indoors<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-75d0967a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"75d0967a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5897d779\" data-id=\"5897d779\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a9dc77b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a9dc77b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Argentine Ant Information<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86ddd46 closed-accordion elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"86ddd46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1411\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1411\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Invasive \/ native: <\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1411\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1411\"><p>Argentine ants are the number one invasive ant in New Zealand.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1412\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1412\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Distribution:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1412\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1412\"><p>Argentine ants are found in the temperate parts of the world and so much of New Zealand is ideal habitat.<\/p><p>First identified in Auckland in 1990, it has quickly become established in many areas including\u00a0Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Wellington City, Nelson City and Christchurch.<\/p><p>It is predicted to become a dominant ant species across much of the North Island, in particularly the coastal areas and the northern parts of the South Island.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1413\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1413\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Typical nest location:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1413\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1413\"><p>Argentine ants will often build their nests in wall cavities but outside will build their shallow nests under leaf litter, rocks, logs and pavers.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1414\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1414\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Colony size \/ structure:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1414\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1414\"><p>Argentine ants are one of the worst invasive species capable of developing super-colonies that can completely dominant an area. They are multi-queen, multi-nest colonies, with up to 1 queen per 100 workers. The nest expands through budding, where males and females will mate within the parent nest and then leave with a small number of workers to create a new nest nearby. These nests are interconnected and the resulting supercolonies can cover thousands of square kilometres over time.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1415\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1415\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Identification:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1415\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1415\"><p>Colour: Mid-brown<\/p><p>Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm (workers are of variable size)<\/p><p>Nodes on petiole: 1<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1416\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1416\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Food preferences:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1416\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1416\"><p>Argentine ants have a strong preference for sugars, and are big \u2018farmers\u2019 of sap feeding insects, from which they harvest honeydew. However, they show a noticeable increase in protein intake during the warmer months in response to the food requirements to support increased production of young.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1417\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1417\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Distinguishing features \/ behaviours:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1417\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1417\"><ul><li>In areas of significant infestation, massive numbers of ants and brood will be found on the soil surface under leaf litter, sheeting, rocks, pavers, etc<\/li><li>They can produce extensive foraging trails over many tens of metres, often 10 or more rows of ants wide.<\/li><li>They have a high level of nest mobility, frequently moving the nest in response to the environmental conditions (heat &amp; moisture)<\/li><li>They can often invade buildings in large numbers looking for food or when moving nest<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1418\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1418\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Bite \/ sting:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1418\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1418\"><p>Argentine ants do not sting but will bite (mild)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-1419\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1419\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Other comments:<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1419\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1419\"><p>Argentine ants maintain the highly productive supercolony by executing the least productive queens each spring. Up to 90% of queens are executed by workers to be replaced by younger more productive queens as the season develops.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd168f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd168f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Go back to the main ants page for other <a href=\"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/ants\/\">types of ants<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e7d8c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e7d8c0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1141029\" data-id=\"1141029\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f27f6b2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f27f6b2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to get rid of Argentine ants?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9de610e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9de610e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>With the large number of queens in the colony and huge numbers of ants involved, Argentine ant problems are best left to the pest professional. Baits on their own are not a viable option. It is necessary to use a combination of sprays and baits. Where there are large number of ants outside, a general spray treatment should be carried out to all areas of activity. Ideally this will be a non-repellent spray. Once the spray has significantly dented the population the use of baits becomes more viable, especially to areas of activity indoors. With Argentine ants switching between sugar and protein preferences during the year, different bait types may need to be trialled.\u00a0<\/p><p>As Argentine ants have a multi-queen, multi-nest colony structure and can create super colonies over massive areas, it is never really possible to eliminate an Argentine ant problem. If you have Argentine ants in your area, it will be necessary to have regular treatments to keep them in check and out of the house.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bac41ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"bac41ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da461b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"da461b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Argentine ant FAQ<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fde1093 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"fde1093\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2661\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2661\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Do Argentine ants bite?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2661\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2661\"><p>Yes, Argentine ants bite but don&#8217;t sting. If you happen to encounter Argentine ants, they may swarm over you quickly in large numbers, giving you a number of little nips. However, as there is no sting or venom injected, there is no lasting pain or itchiness.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2662\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2662\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Are Argentine ants dangerous?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2662\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2662\"><p>No, Argentine ants are not dangerous to humans. ALthough, if you have an infestation around your house they can certainly be very annoying and can make it difficult to enjoy your outdoor areas and lawn, as they are quite aggressive and do give a mild bite.<\/p><p>However, they are very dangerous to native wildlife. Not only do they attack other ants and invertebrates in the area, but will attack lizards, young birds in their nests and other vertebrates.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2663\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2663\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Can I get rid of Argentine ants myself?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2663\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2663\"><p>The scale of an Argentine ant infestation is generally beyond the abilities of a DIYer. With the generally large numbers of ants and combination of products required, homeowners trying to do it themselves will often carry out multiple treatments, spending a significant amount on products, with little succes. Using a pest professional will be cheaper and deliver a better result.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 id=\"elementor-tab-title-2664\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2664\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" tabindex=\"0\">What is an Argentine ant super colony?<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2664\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2664\"><p>Argentine ants have a multi-queens, multi-nest colony structure. They have a high reproductive rate, producing a large number of reproductives (queens) &#8211; up to 1 queen per hundred workers. The colony expands with queens moving off with some workers to set up a new nest, all part of the same colony. This growth allows Argentine ants to expand their territory rapidly. In areas when they have invaded from overseas, such as Australia, where they have no natural predators. Over time these colonies rapidly expand and develop in to super colonies covering 10 &#8211; 100 square kilometres!\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-60eb98b elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"60eb98b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pest Snapshot &#8211; Argentine Ant Scientific name: Linepithema humile Identification: Mid-Brown. Size: 2.5 \u2013 3.0 mm. Create obvious foraging trails. Health threat: Low Bite \/ sting pain: Mild bite, but no sting. (Quite aggressive) Difficulty to control: Difficult Diet: Ominvore, but mainly protein and honeydew Nest locations: Outside in leaf-litter and under objects Colony structure: Multi-queen, multi-nest Main pest season: Summer \/ Autumn Indoor\/Outdoor pest: Outdoors and indoors Argentine Ant Information Invasive \/ native: Argentine ants are the number one [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":11729,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in New Zealand","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), one of the key invasive ants in New Zealand.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11738","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11738"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39131,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11738\/revisions\/39131"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/professionalpestmanager.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}