Species Content Page

Print Friendly Fact Sheet

Email to a Friend

Ants

Argentine ant
Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

Status
Exotic (but present in Australia)

Dorsal view Zoomify

Caption: Australia: Melbourne.

Source: Simon Hinkley & Ken Walker Museum Victoria

L. humile workers are monomorphic, displaying no physical differentiation. The workers of this species are small, medium to dark brown ants, reaching 2 to 3 mm in length. Body surface is smooth and shiny and lacks hairs on the dorsum of the head and thorax. The petiole is composed of a single, scale-like segment, and sting is absent.

Characteristics:

- Mandbiles 5-8 large teeth, 5-13 smaller denticles
- First apical tooth elongate and much longer than the second tooth
- Front margin of clypeus above mandibles with a broad, shallow concavity
- Relatively low placement of eyes
- Tear-drop shaped head with widest point well above eyes
- Hairs on the front margin of clypeus above mandibles straight
- Upper face of propodeum generally same length or longer than rear face

PaDIL Links:
Yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
Singapore ant (Monomorium destructor)
Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis)
black house ant (Ochetellus glaber)
Crazy Ant (Paratrechina longicornis)
Tropical Fire Ant (Solenopsis geminata)
Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta )
white-footed ant (Technomyrmex jocosus)
electric ant (Wasmannia auropunctata)

Specimen contact point: Museum Victoria

Citation: Walker, K. (2006) Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) Pest and Diseases Image Library. Updated on 8/29/2006 12:06:40 PM. Available online: http://www.padil.gov.au

Created Date: 8/14/2006 5:06:52 PM

Last Updated: 8/29/2006 12:06:40 PM

Diagnostic Images
Head Front	Head Side	Thorax Side
Overview Images
Dorsal	Lateral	Posterior
Other Images
Diagnostic notes	Worker and Alate