Argentine ants were accidentally imported by coffee shipments to New Orleans circa 1891. Since that time they have spread eastward into the Carolinas and as far south as Southern Florida and westward into Texas and California. Argentine ants are also located in Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and Africa. Usually ants of the same species, in different colonies, will fight each other. However, Argentine ants cooperate with each other.
Argentine ants can be aggressive to other insects.
They can exterminate termite colonies and kill or drive off paper wasps and carpenter bees. One stomach is for itself, while the other is the crop that is used to feed others. Ants pass messages while they pass food. To feed and be fed, two ants stand up with their mouths pressed together, and the liquid comes out of one ant's crop and into the other ant's mouth. Secretions called pheromones come with the food.