Talk:Argentine ant

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Article Grading: The following comments were left by the quality and importance raters: (edit · refresh) The statement regarding the Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) attraction to electrical fields cannot be attributed to this species. This behavior is attributed to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), or simply RIFA. The statement regarding loss of genetic diversity to explain mega colonization and diverse colony cooperation was found to be false by a Stanford University study. West coast colonies had exhibited a suppressed fight response with like species but this was attributed to fight response gene suppression not lack of genetic diversity. One should note that within the study area (on campus grounds) there were colonies that did not cooperate with like species. South and East coast colonies were found to have a much higher fight response amongst each other than West coast colonies probably due to multiple introductions of the Argentine ant.

Information from the article is different from what is written in one of the links. http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/15/BAG75L6BJK1.DTL&type=science mentions that fire ants don't co-exist with argentine ants. "Quickly spreading north and west, they attacked other ants and established dominance everywhere -- except in the southern states, where more aggressive fire ants have kept them at bay." 80.178.110.82 21:24, 5 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Alert To All Animal Owners

Argentine ants KILL. I live in Queensland, Australia I dont know if these ants are as agresive in other parts of the world but I think this will be very good info for people... I went out to check on my Guinea Pigs and foud SIX of them to be dead they were coverd with these ants and their fur was eaten off by the ants I have tried every thing to stop these ants but they DO NOT respond to any thing I use or do. I f you have small animals Eg. Guinea Pigs, Rats, Rabits, Mice ECT. and you notice you have a lot of these ants around I Very Stronglky Urge you to bring them into safty like a garage or even inside. I hope that this message stops the deaths of little animals and helps you in some way. :) . I dont want people to go thru what I did. This Message was posted by Sam. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Poooochi (talk • contribs) 07:11, 27 December 2006 (UTC).
(moved here from article —Quicksilver^{T @} 11:57, 27 December 2006 (UTC))

what makes you think it was the ants that killed your guinea pigs and not another creature that left the carcass to the ants? i have heard they arent afraid of attacking bigger creatures, though. 80.178.110.82 21:26, 5 June 2007 (UTC)