You wanted to see where all those ants are coming from? Well here is the site to see what ants are where with their descriptions and images.
The ant fauna of California comprises 8 subfamilies, 44 genera and approximately 300 species (of which 30 are introduced). About 25% of the native species are endemic to the state or to the California Floristic Province (including northern Baja California and southern Oregon).
https://www.antweb.org/adm1.do?name=California&country=United+States
Prominent California ants include seed-harvesting species in the genera Veromessor, Pheidole and Pogonomyrmex; honeypot ants in the genus Myrmecocystus; a diverse array of species in the genera Camponotus ("carpenter ants") and Formica; native fire ants (Solenopsis spp.); velvety tree ants (Liometopum spp.); and the introduced Argentine ant (Linepithema humile). This last named species is particularly common in urban and suburban parts of California, where it establishes dense populations and eliminates most native species of ants.
This web site provides color images and identification information for most of the species of ants known to occur in California. For identification of pest ants you may find it useful to consult the key to common household ants of California developed by the UC Statewide IPM Program.
Specimens: 15,612
Images: 655
Imaged Specimens: 981
Subfamilies: 8
Genera: 44
Species/Subspecies: 305
Valid Species/Subspecies: 266
Endemic: 26
Introduced: 23
Show All Specimens
https://www.antweb.org/about.do
AND WAIT, THERE"S MORE - ALEX WILD'S SITE HAS EVEN MORE WONDERFUL IMAGES AND HISTORIES OF ANTS
https://www.alexanderwild.com/Ants
Plus a menagerie of other Insect images - https://www.alexanderwild.com/Insects/Portfolio/
Check it out
And if you want to get down with the Argentine Ant. Don't forget the Workshop next week
Argentine Ant Workshop and Registration
David Haviland says the best Ant Costume wins free admission. Actually it's free to all who register for the meetings.
