Cate Ant Infestation: The Newest (and smallest) Members of the Cate Community

By Amelia Riepe' 27

With mid-trimester grades approaching, a severe heatwave, and Fall Family Weekend on the horizon, Cate students are already swamped. An unexpected, school-wide ant infestation raging through every dorm and faculty house on campus added yet another crisis to an already stressful week. B&G has been working all summer tirelessly to tackle these ants, but now it's beyond what's manageable. Whether you’ve seen them climbing in your room, outside of the co-lab, or possibly not at all, these ants are everywhere. 

It turns out that this is hardly a new problem. Ms. Peterson, biology teacher and passionate ant-hater, explained that “They are Argentine ants, an invasive species native to northern Argentina.” As she notes, Argentine ants swarm and take over entire areas, their latest victim being the Mesa. These ants actually don’t build typical nests, but instead, merge into giant, interconnected supercolonies that can span miles. According to the California Conservation Science Center, Argentine ants were first recorded in California in 1907 and have since formed larger supercolonies stretching from San Diego to the northernmost parts of the state. 

Senior Maddie Kollock ‘27 recalled walking into her room after a stressful study session in the Co-Lab, only to discover that her desk had been overtaken by a dense blanket of ants, all marching towards a forlorn crumb. She described the scene, exclaiming, “All I wanted to do was sit down for a minute and relax, but there were ants literally everywhere I could see. I had to spray my room with anti-pest solution, and the smell lingered forever.”  

Maddie isn’t alone in this experience. Students across campus have experienced the horror of seeing trails of ants snaking around the floor of their dorm room, searching for moisture or fallen food. To fight these pests, the Cate community is encouraged to stay proactive. Seal food in containers or avoid eating in your room, and make sure to leave no wet clothing or towels on the floor. These simple habits can prevent future swarms and ensure your room stays pest-free. TEACS and Chemistry lab write-ups aside, this ant crisis might be one of the heftiest challenges that Cate students must o