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Pacific Pests & Pathogens - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Ants - Argentine ant (365)

Photo 1. Argentine ants, Linepithema humile, feeding on a fipronil gel bait.

Photo 2. Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, view from the side.

Photo 3. Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, head from the front.

Photo 4. Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, view from above.

Photo 5. Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, showing the arrangement of the hind end. The structure in front of the bulbous 'gaster' is called the 'petiole' (arrowed). It is characteristic for this ant species

Summary

Worldwide distribution. Australia, New Zealand, not Pacific island countries. Among 100 world's worse invasive species. Difficult to manage; aggressive, but does not sting, bite or spray formic acid. Favours disturbed areas, invades houses.
Nests on ground, rarely in buildings. Forms supercolonies. Food is mainly nectar and honeydew. Other insects taken to feed queens and brood.
Damage directly: loss of biodiversity - alters seed dispersal, pollination; indirectly by defending aphids, mealybugs, scales and whiteflies from natural enemies.
Tramp ant. Spread by 'budding' - queens and workers leave the colony; spread via international trade.
Biosecurity: requires risk assessments, regulations preventing introduction, protocols in case of breaches, and ability to make rapid response. Pacific Ant Prevention Plan available (IUCN/SSC Invasive Specialist Group).
Cultural control: hot water at 47°C kills ants; over 49°C kills plants.
Chemical control: use i) stomach poisons (fibronil, Amdro borax), ii) growth regulators (methoprene, pyriproxyfen), iii) nerve poisons (bifenthrin, fipronil, imidacloprid). See (http://piat.org.nz/getting-rid-of-ants).

Common Name

Argentine ant, sweet ant (in Argentina).

Scientific Name

Linepithema humile; previously, Iridomymex humilis.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI Linepithema humile (Argentine ant) (2018) Crop Protection Compendium. (www.cabi.org/cpc); and Pacific Invasive Ant Toolkit. (http://piat.org.nz/problem-ants/worst-5-identification/argentine-ant); and AntWiki. http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Linepithema_humile); and AntWeb. (https://www.antweb.org/description.do?genus=linepithema&name=humile&rank=species); and from Linepithema humile (2018) Global Invasive Species Database. (http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Linepithema+humile). Photo 1 Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org. Photos 2-5 Simon Hinkley & Ken Walker (2006) Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). Museum of Victoria. PaDIL - (http://www.padil.gov.au).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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