Argentine ant is one of the most invasive species but only found in the temperate Southern states. PIA key is a useful tool (as it the Sumitomo pocket guide, available on the stand).
2. ID Features
•2 – 2.5mm
•Single, raised petiole
•White “feet”
•Shiny, black gaster
•Single nest
•Single queen
3. ID Features
•2.5 – 3.0mm
•No raised petiole
•White “feet”
•Black / Brown gaster with hairs
•Multi-nest
•50% inter-castes (female reproductives)
4. ID Features
•4.0 – 4.5mm
•Heart shaped gaster
•Gaster can be raised through 180O
•Large nests
•Many multi-queen species
•Species vary in colour
5. ID Features
•1.3 - 1.5mm
•White gaster and legs
•Multi-nest
•Multi-queen
6. ID Features
•6.0mm
•Fast moving and aggressive
•Compound eyes in middle of head
•Colour varies by species
•Multi-nest
•Multi-queen
7. ID Features
•5.0 – 7.0mm
•Irridescent green / purple colour
•Aggressive with painful sting
•Tend to forage in sunshine
•Single nest / Multi-queen
•Queens similar to workers, often forage)
9. Black House Ant Argentine Ant White-footed Ant
•Single raised petiole
•Shiny black gaster
•White feet
•Single raised petiole
•Uniform dull, brown colour
•No petiole
•Erect hairs on large gaster
•White feet
Pacific Invasive Ant Key (PIAKey)
10. Thank you
Don’t forget to pick up
your ant pocket guide
from our stand
Notas del editor
Can be confused with Argentine ant (also has single raised petiole), but Argentine ant is brown and White-footed house ant, but white footed house ant has larger gaster that is dull in colour. Black house ant is a single queen species so is easy to control with sugar baits. PIAKey = Pacific Invasive ant key
The high % of inter-castes and multi-nest structure make them difficult to control (not the lack of trophallaxis myth). Lack of petiole distinguishes it from Argentine ant and Black House ant.
Like many ant species they tend sap feeding insects for sweet secretions – honeydew.
Related to meat ants. Some species have symbiotic relationship with Imperial Blue butterflies
So what is this brown ant? Argentine ant is one of the most invasive species but only found in the temperate Southern states. PIA key is a useful tool (as it the Sumitomo pocket guide, available on the stand).