How to Get Rid of Argentine Ants

The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) can seek refuge in your home, especially during very hot summers, and can overrun buildings and homes within two to three months. They can also be found near water, plants, in wood and in moist soils. Argentine ants are aggressive and develop large colonies, providing several hundred queens to increase the size of a colony. Once you notice these ants, take steps to get rid of them before they cause damage to your home.

Talcum powder
Granule bait
Weather strips and caulk

Instructions

- 1
  Identify any Argentine ants in your home. They are dark-brown and 1/8 inch long. Mark the areas where you find trails of these ants.
- 2
  Sprinkle talcum powder in your home where you see Argentine ant trails. Also sprinkle talcum along baseboards, windows and doors. Talcum is safe for children and pets; it's best to use it inside the home only. Talcum powder will not kill the ants, but it will cause them to avoid areas where the powder is sprinkled.
- 3
  Place granular baits around the foundation of your home. Products such as Advion Ant Bait Arena and Maxforce Ant Bait are good for killing Argentine ants. The bait gives a sweet smell, tempting worker ants to bring it back to the queen to eat. As the ants continue to eat the bait, it will eventually kill them, eliminating any colonies living in or around your home.
- 4
  Use preventive measures to prevent Argentine ants from entering your home. Argentine ants can enter holes as small as one millimeter wide. Weather-strip windows and doors and caulk any holes found along foundation and along baseboards. Check your screens on doors and windows and make sure they do not have any tears in them.

Definition of Curing Concrete

What Are Some Types of Brick Houses?

Architecture