Southwest Florida pest control companies have noticed an increase in the number of calls regarding ant infestations, particularly ghost ants.

The tropical ants arrived in Florida man years ago via boxes, crates, potted plants and other overseas shipments. Ghost ants are excellent nesters and adapt easily. Their colonies are moderate to large and consist of thousands of workers and numerous queens.

Ghost ants got their name because they can be hard to spot due to their size and coloring. The ants measure less than 1/16 of an inch and have small, pale legs and abdomens and dark heads and thoraxes. A fun little fact about these tiny pests is they smell like coconut when crushed.

While ghost ants can’t sting and typically won’t bite, they can cause harm to humans because they easily spread food-borne illnesses like salmonella. This type of ant is attracted to all food sources, but they are especially drawn to sweets .

Since ghost ants can be difficult to spot until hundreds have invaded your space, it is best to take some preventative measures to keep them outside where they belong.

• Keep food tightly stored
• Ensure exterior doors close snugly
• Keep weatherstripping in good repair
• Store firewood away from your house
• Pull mulch away from foundation to create a dry area
• Reduce moisture sources such as leaks around sinks and toilets
• Remove plants that attract insects that produce honeydew

While keeping ahead of the problem with quarterly preventative pest control is the best option to keep pests from entering your home, a pest control professional can also effectively get rid of them by using baits throughout your home.

Florida has always been a popular place to live and vacation, which is due mostly to the 200 plus sunny days each year. The Sunshine State’s warm, humid climate is also a prime location for a variety of pests. And unlike states with low temperatures, bugs are active year-round in Florida.
Pests such as ants, roaches and rodents are always looking for a good source of food, water and shelter and our homes provide them with the perfect setting. Once these pests have infiltrated your home, they can cause damage and be difficult to get rid of if they go undetected for too long. However, there are several easy habits you can develop around your home to keep the intrusive bugs at bay.