The fierce and tenacious Argentine ant has taken over California flatlands from native ant species. Native to Argentina and Brazil, this species was probably introduced at New Orleans via coffee shipments from Brazil and Is found throughout the southern states and in California. Isolated infestations are found in Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Oregon and Washington. Found in moist situations near a food source, preferring sweets but will feed on any kind of food.
Colonies contain from a few hundred to thousands.
They invade buildings when Conditions outside are ether too wet or too dry for their comfort. Eliminating food sources will discourage the ants from entering a household. Plugging hales in walls, wiping ant trolls with Windex and building moats of soapy water on pets' food dishes will help control invasions. National Pest Control Management Assoc. It's the weather that sends ants streaming into homes, and using pesticides, sprays and baits to keep the critters out is hopeless, a new Stanford University study concludes.