Florida has its fair share of pests, and ants are among the most common. Invasive ants are a problem throughout the state, and once they’ve moved into your home or landscaping, they can be difficult to control. Here’s an overview of the four types of invasive ants you’ll find in South Florida, and why they’re such a problem.
1. Big-Headed Ants
While big-headed ants have long been a problem in Africa and Australia, they’re a recent introduction into Florida’s ecosystem. These reddish-brown ants are easily mistaken for fire ants. Luckily, they don’t have the painful bite of a fire ant, but they can be very difficult to control. You need to eliminate the whole colony, since the population can rebound if even a tiny population survives—that’s why it’s best to leave big-headed ant control to pest control professionals.
2. Carpenter Ants
While carpenter ants won’t eat the wood in your home, they will nest inside any rotten wood they can find. They even take over termite habitats in the home, attacking them, consuming their eggs, and making themselves at home. These ants are large and tend to be most active at night or early morning, and they have a powerful, painful bite, so you should never attempt to deal with a major infestation on your own.
3. Fire Ants
Fire ants are not just a nuisance, they can also be dangerous to people and pets, and they’re unfortunately found throughout the State of Florida—even though they aren’t native.
Fire ants bite and sting, intentionally swarming to increase the likelihood that they will be able to kill their prey. They range in color from red to brown and almost black, and a single colony can hold up to 40,000 individuals. You should always reach out to pest control experts to deal with a fire ant infestation rather than risking your health.
4. Ghost Ants
Also known as sugar ants, ghost ants are one of the most common pest problems in South Florida. They’re tiny, fast-moving, and nearly transparent, and they often congregate in kitchens and bathrooms. While they may go unnoticed at times, they swarm quickly the moment a crumb appears on the counter or the floor.
Ghost ants are a year-round problem, and they can be very hard to control. While they don’t bite, they can contaminate food in your home. Instead of relying on DIY pest control methods—which rarely work to eradicate the resilient ghost ant—reach out to your local pest control experts at Service Choice to remove the problem once and for all.
Invasive Ants Are a Year-Round Problem for Florida Homeowners
South Florida’s beautiful, unique climate makes it a welcome habitat for some of the state’s most invasive creatures—ants. No matter what type of ant problem you’re dealing with at home, don’t rely on ineffective DIY treatment methods. Instead, call the ant control experts at Service Choice of South Florida to remove an active infestation and ensure it never happens again. Call us today at (954) 568-9955 to schedule your free pest control consultation.
