Linepithema humile Mayr

SPECIES: Linepithema humile (order Hymenoptera)

COMMON NAME: Argentine ant

SIZE: 2-2.5 mm; the queen can reach 5 mm., while males can reach 4 mm.

FEATURES: It is distinguishable from other ants by the presence of only one node at the petiole. The workers are dull brown colour.

LIFECYCLE: The lifecycle of an ant consists of four stages: egg-larva-pupa-adult. The eggs, small, white or yellowish, are laid in huge numbers by the queen (colonies may also contain millions of ants, all produced by a single queen) and, within 2-6 weeks develop into larvae. After being fed for a period ranging from a few weeks to several months, they become pupae. During the pupal stage, the ant remains idle: it feeds and undergoes the profound transformation into an adult insect.

HABITAT: These ants live in polygynous colonies of thousands of ants, in nests built under the ground, under rocks, in cracks in walls, etc.

DIET: They require abundant sugary and high-protein food. They not only protect aphids and scale insects, which supply them with honeydew, but will damage ripe fruit, and steal honey from hives.

DAMAGE: they can penetrate homes and food industry buildings through sewers to navigate undisturbed, coming from nesting sites either already inside the building, or outside. Finally, its bites can disturb people while sleeping, or even kill small vertebrates (e.g. chicks and rabbits). A potential vector of pathogens, the Argentine ant is considered a pest that must be removed.

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