Down here in the Southlands, there’s a bit of an ant problem. It’s okay, we can admit that it’s only almost perfect. However, if you’ve had a serious case of central Florida ant infestations before, you’ll know it’s no joke. That’s why today we’ll talk about why Florida is home to so many ants, and some of the species you can expect in an infestation.
Central Florida Ant Infestations: Overview
Ants, as a rule, are not generally a *bad* thing. They’re better for the soil than most worms, in fact! The underground tunnels they dig are beneficial in that they improve air and water circulation in the soil. And when they produce waste, it fertilizes the soil and improves its general chemistry. And they voraciously consume other pests such as ticks, termites, and scorpions.
However, like anything, too much of a good thing is no longer quite so good. Some of the ants in Florida can cause severe damage to your home structurally. Black carpenter ants, for example, are a species you have to be on the lookout for. They invade homes and dig through wooden beams to build their nests, causing extensive damage as they go. This can lead to a more than a little costly repair bill!
Ant invasions are unfortunately pretty uncommon in Florida. This is likely due to the environment being perfect for bugs to reproduce. Our winters are shorter and warmer with the year, and the increase in human activity. And the more people you have, the more you’ll have pests that thrive off of human activity by eating garbage or tunneling into our homes. And at a rate of a thousand new residents in the state a day, you’re not gonna see this get better any time soon.
Central Florida Ant Infestations: What species to expect
Now with so many ants in Florida in general, you can expect to have to deal with one of a few species. So, let’s get into them now.
Ghost Ants
Personally, this is the most annoying ant infestation I’ve ever had. Ghost ants get their names from their tiny size and pale colors of its legs and body, which makes it difficult to see them individually. They have dark heads and thoraxes, but their small size lends them to look more like specs of dust than an infesting insect. They’re also related to a species known as the odorous house ants. So, expectedly, they give off a coconut like odor when they’re crushed.
These are tropical ants that can be found throughout south and central Florida and have been here for several years. Expectedly, this species of ant is invasive- as many infesting species usually are. Infestations happen easily, as these ants are easily transported. You can bring them in accidentally through boxes, crates, potted plants, and even household goods that are shipped in. Farther north they only really survive in heated buildings or greenhouses.
Ghost ants usually cause central Florida ant infestations in search of food and shelter. They collect honeydew from plant-feeding insects. Usually, you can find colonies tending to aphids in gardens that collect the honeydew. The workers will also feed off of dead insects. But indoors, these ants prefer sweets. So if you see them in your cabinet it’s likely going to be on things like cereal, candy, or your bags of sugar. When ghost ants nest indoors, it’s usually in potted plants. They can also be found behind baseboards and inside wall voids. Unfortunately, once inside ghost ant colonies tend to split and create several satellite nests. It’s not uncommon to find ghost ants trailing between the nests once inside, and continuing to expand their numbers.
Fire ants
Next on our list is probably one of the worst central Florida ant infestations to have in general. As you can assume, it’s another invasive species. Ants from more tropical environments tend to be bigger, more numerous, and meaner. And that goes for the fire ant just as much as any other species. The most commonly encountered species is the red imported fire ant, but we’ll just keep calling them fire ants. These bugs were accidentally imported to the united states somewhere in the ports of Pensacola around 1933.
Since then, the ant has been found to be extremely aggressive and armed with a painful sting, while also being a very fast reproducer. Combine that with a few natural predators and its ability to survive extreme weather, and you have an ant that now dominates most of the southeastern U.S. They range through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee.
One of the reasons this is such a series infestations is their aforementioned aggression. When fire ants attack someone, they first use their mandibles to grip, and then they stab repeatedly in a circular pattern with their stingers. Stings from a fire ant are painful and irritating to most, and even fatal to some. If you get stung by one of these ants and experience reactions such as sweating, nausea, or excessive itching- you may need to go to the hospital. Their alkaloid venom is highly irritating and results in red pumps with white, pussy heads that can lead to scarring.
Their namesake comes from the feeling of their sting, which has been described as a burning and intensely itchy sensation. There’s a chemical in their stings that attracts other fire ants once applied, so multiple stings can be infested as the ants attempt to defend their mounds.
Central Florida Ant Infestations: Signs and what to do if infested
For ants, most signs of infestation are just that- the ants themselves. And the best thing you can do is contact a pest control specialist as soon as possible. Obviously, observing extreme tidiness and eliminating food sources is a good first step, but it’s usually not enough.
Getting rid of ants in your home is a challenge, especially if it’s a species that creates multiple nesting sites or is a dangerous swarmer like the fire ant. Instead of trying to go it alone, contact us through our website at insectfree.com or our phone number at 1-800-634-1313.
