Argentine Ant Tips for Homeowners in Georgia

By:  Paul J. Bello

August 31, 2025

Ants are amongst the most commonly encountered insect pests by homeowners and pest professionals alike. The purpose of this article is to provide homeowners in Georgia with accurate and credible information for successfully dealing with Argentine ants. These ants are an invasive and a persistent ant pest frequently found here.

Here in the Atlanta metro area one of the most problematic species is the Argentine ant, scientific name Linepithema humile. Argentine ants appear dark brown to black in color, are about 1/8 inch long and usually seen traveling in trails of multiple ants. Effective management requires understanding their behavior and using a combination of sanitation, exclusion, and baiting strategies.

As a type of Tramp Ant, they are known to create forage trails which are created by individual ants via the deposition of chemicals called pheromone trails which are detected and followed by their fellow colony members. These trails may extend long distances with hundreds of ants crawling along these trails. Except for winged reproductive males, all the ants we see are females.

Argentine ants are monomorphic which means one shape such that all the ants observed are about the same size and shape. They may have multiple queens within the colony which are capable of producing numerous eggs each day. They also form large colonies and travel in clear trails to food sources, often nesting in moist, hidden areas like under rocks or inside walls. Experts inform us that we only see about 5% of the colony population.

Since such a small portion of the total population is observed outside the nest, it is difficult to completely eliminate these ants by application of insecticides alone. This is so because insecticide formulations which produce quick mortality result in mortality of many foraging ants but may not significantly affect the entire colony population.

These ants are capable of building large populations and multiple colonies may inhabit the same forage areas. Argentine ants are known to live in a cooperative fashion amongst neighboring colonies thus forming super colonies. These ants are opportunistic feeders. They are attracted to moisture and food sources like honeydew produced by sap-sucking insects present in the landscape surrounding structures. Argentine ants are a significant pest in urban environments due to their ability to form massive colonies that outcompete native ant species in combination with their ability to travel great distances from their nest locations to enter structures.

The life cycle of Argentine ants includes complete metamorphosis with four stages which includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult. A single queen can deposit as many as 60 eggs per day. Development from egg to adult can average about seventy days for a worker type ant. Colonies with multiple queens can build significant populations rather quickly.

Argentine Ant Tips:

• Correct Identification.
  • Size and color: Workers are small (about 1/8 inch long) and light to dark brown.
  • Distinct trails: These ants often form wide, noticeable lines or “highways” of thousands of workers moving to and from a food source.
• Control strategies.
  • Avoid use of quick killing type insecticides.
  • Some homeowners may use fast-acting insecticides spray when they see ants indoors, but this may make the Argentine ant infestation worse because these spray applications only kill the foraging ants seen and not the queens and the rest of the colony hidden in the nest.
  • These spray applications can cause the colony to divide into smaller colonies via a process called budding. This can then scatter ant activity to other areas of your home.
  • Since Argentine ants can have multiple queens and massive, super colonies, application of slow killing insecticide formulations and/or use of ant baits, when done properly, is a more effective methodologies to eliminate ant activity.
  • Non-repellent, slow acting insecticide products may contain fipronil or imidacloprid as the active ingredient.
  • Ants tend to travel along structural cues such as edges of driveways, walkways, decks and other such areas. Apply residual insecticides to such areas where ants tend to travel.

• Other Prevention Methods include.
  • Eliminate food and moisture sources in and around your home to make your home as less attractive as possible to foraging ants.
  • Store food, including pet foods, in sealed, airtight containers. Don’t leave pet food bowls out overnight.
  • Clean thoroughly, wipe down counters, sweep, and mop floors regularly to remove crumbs and spills.
  • Trim back branches, shrubs and tree limbs away from the structure which can provide an entry for ants.
  • Repair leaky faucets, pipes, clogged gutters, and other moisture sources in a timely fashion.
  • Seal entry points and openings where ants may enter from the exterior.
  • Use caulk to seal cracks, gaps and structural flaws around the foundation, windows, and doors in which pests may enter.
  • Repair and replace weather stripping to doors and windows and repair any damaged screens as needed to keep pests out.
  • Argentine ants prefer sweets, so use a slow-acting liquid baits such as those containing boric acid at 1% or less. As with fast acting insecticides, fast-acting baits usually kill foragers before they can share the bait with the colony.
  • Place multiple bait stations outdoors along ant trails or near where you’ve seen them entering the house. Outdoor placement is best to lure ants away from the home.
  • To enhance bait efficacy, remove competing food and water sources which may compete with bait placements.
  • Avoid application of insecticide sprays near the bait stations, this may cause ants to avoid them.
  • It can take several weeks or longer to see a significant reduction in ant activity, but consistency is key.

When to Call a Pest Professional

When experiencing ant activity appears to be growing worse despite your best efforts, it may be time to call a suitably experienced and qualified Pest Professional. These Professionals possess specialized skills, knowledge, equipment and materials which enable them to successfully resolve pest problems, including ants. Additionally, they have access to large capacity equipment and commercial duty, non-repellent insecticides that can be applied to the home’s exterior to create an undetectable barrier. When used in accordance with label directions these products are highly effective and should be used with expertise to avoid runoff and environmental damage.