We forgot to mention many things in our Argentine ant post; however, there is no scientific evidence that Argentine ants attack termite colonies. 1) This is an internet rumor. 2) One’s position on whether or not Argentine ants are harmless depends upon your stance on native versus non-native species and the importance of biodiversity. We’re not alone in considering Argentine ants very harmful. Argentine ants are one of the world’s worst invasive alien species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In California, by eliminating the native ant diet of the coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum), Argentine ants have further imperiled this engendered lizard and they have negatively impacted the important seed dispersal function of the native Western harvester ant–two more reasons to hate them. 3) Regarding kitchen invasions, your information about baiting is correct (except that there is no product under the brand name you mentioned). Argentine ants are best managed with bait and exclusion (closing the entry points to your kitchen).

Finally, you are correct that migration and competition between ant species is natural; however, Argentine ants did not migrate to North America. They were introduced to North America through human activity and thereby leapfrogged all the competitive skirmishes that would have impacted their migration. (To go Mr. Science on you, this is called “long-distance jump dispersal.”)

According to IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, these are the general impacts of Argentine ants:

While the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is associated with disturbed habitats throughout its introduced range, it can penetrate native habitats that have experienced little human disturbance. Examples include: matorral in Chile, fynbos in South Africa, coastal sage scrub in southern California, riparian woodlands in California, subalpine shrubland in Hawaii, and oak and pine woodland in Portugal (Fuentes 1991, Bond and Slingsby 1984, Suarez Bolger and Case 1998, Ward 1987, Holway 1998, Cole et al. 1992, in Suarez Holway and Case 2001).
L. humile is a dominant ant and an aggressive competitor. It has displaced native ant species in an ecologically sensitive area in Spain (Carpintero et al. 2005) and has been associated with local extinctions of native ants in California (Suarez Bolger and Case 1998). Californian ants that are especially sensitive to displacement are army ants (Neivamyrmex spp.) and harvester ants (genera Messor and Pogonomyrmex), both of which are important ecosystem regulators (Suarez Bolger and Case 1998). Monomorium species, such as M. ergatogyna, may persist because of their chemical defences or their tolerance of higher temperatures (Holway 1999, Adams and Traniello 1981, Andersen et al. 1991, in Holway et al. 2002a). In introduced regions L. humile may be displaced by the red imported fire ant (Solenopis invicta), another invasive ant (Holway et al. 2002a).
Invasive ants have a great potential to alter ecosystem processes, including ant-mediated seed dispersal or plant pollination. In California the removal of seeds produced by the myrmecochorous (ant-dispersed) tree poppy Dendromecon rigida is less in areas inhabited by the Argentine ant (L. humile) than in areas inhabited by the common harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex subnitidus) (Carney et al. 2003). A similar outcome has occured in the South African fynbos, where the displacement of large native ants by L. humile has lead to a reduction in the dispersal of large ant-dispersed seeds and a reduction in the reproduction of those plants (Christian 2001, Holway et al. 2002a).
Native arthropods are greatly threatened by Argentine ants. In South Africa, the Argentine ant can collect up to 42% of available nectar before bees can forage (Buys 1987, in Holway et al. 2002a). In Hawaii the Argentine ant reduces numbers of many native arthropods, including essential pollinators (Cole et al. 1992, in Krushelnycky et al. 2004), the loss of which could threaten insect-pollinated plants such as the endangered “silversword” (Argyroxiphium spp.)

Sorry Dave, we still hate Argentine ants!