Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionArgentine ant (365)
Relates to: Ants
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 - (https://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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