Summertime in San Diego means ants are on the move. The most common ant in our area is the Argentine ant, scientific name linepithema humile. Argentine worker ants are 1/16-inch long and light to dark brown. The queens are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and covered with fine hair. Males are slightly smaller and shiny brown-black. Colonies consist of several hundred to thousands of workers and several queens. They are found throughout the southern United States and California, typically living in nests outdoors and near food sources. They become major pests when they come indoors seeking food or water. The most effective control is accomplished when ant trails are followed to nests and treated with a residual insecticide.
We see infestations of Argentine ants year-round in San Diego, but in the summer they are especially aggressive. The San Diego County Department of Agriculture has good information for homeowners regarding the identification of ant varieties and ant management on their website.
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