The Argentine Ant (Iridomyrmex humilis) is the pest Californians know best. We wage a constant battle to keep them from our homes. Photo Link

Kingdom: Animalia

Common Name:
Argentine Ant

Scientific Name: Iridomyrmex humilis

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Iridomyrmex
Species: humilis

Natural Range
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.

Interesting Facts
 An Argentine ant has more than one stomach. One stomach is for itself, while the other is the crop that is used to feed others. Ants pass messages while they pass food. Ants turn their food into liquid, which goes into their public stomachs (crops). 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. The pheromones are in a form that can be smelled. Because each nest has its own distinct smell, ants can recognize each other with pheromones. The pheromones communicate what jobs need to be done, excitement, or danger. Pheromones also act to attract mates, sound alarms, and provide food trails from the nest among other purposes. Secretions can create a bond or friendship between colony members, helping them to work together.

Links
Find out more here:

The Argentine Ant and CLHS
The Argentine ant invades our trash cans and leftover food. Thousands of these ants are all around our campus. They can be found on the football field, in the dirt lot, or just about anywhere on campus—even the locker rooms.