Insect Picture of the Day

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Alan Krause makes the humble Argentine Ant look artful in this photo. Don’t even try to tell me you don’t want the wallpaper.

There are two species in this genus across the United States; they are thought to have arrived here in a coffee bean shipment to New Orleans in 1891. They reproduce at staggering rates because more than one queen will often share a colony, and they make for a highly effective pest because they’ll eat anything. Oh, and when the weather turns bad, they invade human homes for shelter. They’re teeny–about 2.5mm long.

This might not actually be an Argentine Ant as bugguide indicates that there are a couple of ant species that can only be told apart by checking dental records. Hey, stop laughing. I’m not making that up. “Forelius species have a different dental array on mandibles”. There, see?  Chances are good, however, that if Alan is taking this picture he’s familiar with the peskiness of this ant, and if it’s not Argentine proper, then it’s a close cousin.

Thanks again, Alan!