Our study shows that if you irrigate, you may well have ant problems. And if it's dry, you're not going to get Argentine ants. If it's at all possible to limit your irrigation, you can decrease problems associated with Argentine ants. |
The extent to which urban runoff can be reduced or contained, problems associated with Argentine ants should diminish. Whenever I'm out in the field and someone asks what I'm doing and I tell them I study Argentine ants, the first thing they want to know is, How do I get rid of the ants from my home? |
These results are extremely clear. If you have wet soil outside of your home, if you irrigate your yard frequently, you're providing an environment that is attractive for Argentine ants. |
This is the first, definitive study that provides unambiguous experimental evidence that soil moisture can control invasions of Argentine ants. |