Ants here, ants there, ants of all kinds everywhere! Some southern Florida residents may not be aware how many different types of ants are just waiting to squeeze through the smallest of cracks in their doors or the tiniest of holes in their walls to make themselves right at home, in their homes. Fortunately, with the proper treatment, it is possible to stop an infestation in its tracks.
Types of ants that home and business owners may find crawling on floors, walls, and ceilings include pharaoh, carpenter, white-footed, and ghost ant varieties. Some are much more serious of a problem than others, so it is worth knowing how to recognize each as well as the unique challenges faced when eliminating them.
Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants are around1/16 of an inch long,and their most easily identifiable trait is their yellow to orange color. They thrive outside in the warmer conditions of the South but are often pushed inside during colder months. While not mound-builders or wood carvers, they instead nest in any available darkened voids, from behind baseboards and appliances, to inside shower rods or boxes.Unfortunately, the treatment for pharaoh ants can be a challenge. Learn more about why.
Carpenter Ants
Watch out, because not only are the relatively large Carpenter ants biters, but these pests often spray acid into the open wound. They also damage wood as they create their nests within it, so it is imperative to remove them immediately. Most active at night, the either black,brown or orange-and-black colored six-legged insects are often discovered through the clicking noises they use to communicate, the piles of wood shavings they leave behind,or the slit-shaped openings in the wood that they use as a type of disposal to dump the shavings out.
White-Footed Ants
Fortunately, the 2.5-3mm long white-footed ant is not known to either sting or bite and causes no significant structural damage. Colony size varies from several thousand to a couple million and when indoors they are frequently found in areas of moisture, including bathrooms and kitchens. These blackish-brown ants are difficult to eradicate due to their sheer numbers; half of a colony is fertile females,so they multiply quickly.
Ghost Ants
Surprisingly, it may be easy to miss the presence of thousands of ghost ants, as they have an almost see-through abdomen and legs and measure less than 1/16 of an inch long.However, what they lack in appearance they make up for in other ways; if smashed,they will produce a larger-than-life rotten coconut type scent. Inside buildings, they may reside in wall voids or appliances that they accessed through vents, plumbing, or windows. They often create several nests in hard to find areas which makes getting rid of them somewhat difficult.
The different ants residents of southern Florida may find within their homes can be overwhelming. Fortunately, a trained professional can not only identify the specific source of a problem but also use their expertise to eradicate it and prevent future infestations from taking place.
