Argentine Ants lay their eggs in the summer time, with larvae emerging in about 4 weeks. The larvae reach adulthood in about 75 days, and their coloring ranges from light to dark brown. At maturity Argentine Ants reach about 1/10 of an inch long and have antennae with 12 segments.

Argentine Ants are very adaptable and will nest almost anywhere, with no significant natural enemy (within the United States). Their colonies can contain hundreds of queens with workers numbering in the tens of thousands. Nests can be found in moist soil, near and under structures, and along paved walkways or beneath boards.

Argentine Ants prefer sweets, but will eat virtually anything, and they forage 24 hours a day.

Halt Bugology Factoid
In its introduced range, the Argentine ant often displaces most or all native ants. This can, in turn, imperil other species in the ecosystem, such as native plants that depend on native ants for seed dispersal, or lizards that depend on native ants for food. For example, the recent severe decline in coastal horned lizards in southern California is closely tied to Argentine ants displacing native ant species on which the lizards feed. (Factoid Source: wikipedia)

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