In Florida, most homeowners will deal with a pest problem at least once. Be it ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, or any other common home invading insect. However, ants are going to be one of the most common pests you’ll come across. So today, we’ll touch on Pasco County ants, how to control them, and what to do if you’re dealing with an infestation.
Pasco County Ants: Are the fire ants bad in Pasco Florida?
Florida has an insect problem from coast to coast. And it may not be a problem so much as a feature. If you’re new to the state, this may sound surprising. But it’s a simple fact of life that bugs thrive in tropical ecosystems. This state is home to myriad low lying woodlands, swamps, and beaches. All of these make great breeding and living grounds for insects of all kinds.
Fire ants are one of the most numerous species of ant in the state. On top of that, these are ants that have no qualms about going into your home looking for food. But did you know that fire ants are actually an invasive species? They arrived in America around the 1930s, likely on an infested cargo ship, and have invaded every nook and cranny in the South ever since. They’re spreading westward as well, having already reached as far as Texas and New Mexico.
And when fire ants invade a home or a yard, they’re hard to get rid of. These ants can have underground, labyrinth like tunnels underneath. And these tunnels can stretch over 90 feet from end to end. This means that if one house on the block has a fire ant problem, then most on the same side do as well. Not only that, but fire ants can and will nest in wall voids in your home. And few pest infestations are quite as dangerous as a fire ant one.
Pasco County Ants: are there other ants to worry about in Pasco, Florida?
Unfortunately, we have more ants here than you can shake a stick at. So, let’s touch on a few of the most invasive species you’ll find in your home.
argentine ants
Argentine ants are relatively small, measuring about 2.2 to 2.8 mm in length. They are light to dark brown in color and have a smooth, hairless body. One of their distinguishing features is their 12-segmented antennae. Unlike many other ant species, Argentine ants do not have a stinger, but they can bite.
Argentine ants are highly adaptable and can nest in a variety of environments. They prefer moist areas and are often found in soil, under wood, logs, debris, or mulch. In urban settings, they can nest in cracks in concrete walls, spaces between boards, and even inside homes. These ants are known for their large colonies, which can contain hundreds of queens and millions of workers. They travel in well-defined trails between their nests and food sources, making them highly efficient foragers.
Argentine ants are omnivorous, meaning they can eat almost anything, but they have a preference for sweet foods. They feed on honeydew produced by aphids and other plant-sucking insects, which they protect and farm for this sugary substance. This mutualistic relationship can lead to increased populations of plant pests, causing further ecological disruption.
Argentine ants have a unique reproductive strategy. Unlike many ant species that establish new colonies through nuptial flights, Argentine ants produce reproductives that mate within the nest. When environmental conditions or colony pressures necessitate, queens will leave the nest on foot to establish new colonies nearby. This results in a network of interconnected nests, often referred to as a “supercolony.”
The invasive nature of Argentine ants has significant ecological consequences. They outcompete native ant species for resources, leading to declines in native ant populations. This can disrupt local ecosystems, as native ants play crucial roles in soil aeration, seed dispersal, and predation on other insects. Additionally, Argentine ants can negatively impact vertebrates and plants by disrupting mutualistic relationships and preying on native species.
pharaoh ants
The invasive nature of Argentine ants has significant ecological consequences. They outcompete native ant species for resources, leading to declines in native ant populations. This can disrupt local ecosystems, as native ants play crucial roles in soil aeration, seed dispersal, and predation on other insects. Additionally, Argentine ants can negatively impact vertebrates and plants by disrupting mutualistic relationships and preying on native species.
Pharaoh ants are tiny, measuring about 1.5 to 2 mm in length. They have a light yellow to reddish-brown coloration with a slightly darker abdomen. Their bodies are almost transparent, making them difficult to spot. These ants have a petiole with two nodes and lack spines on their thorax. The antennae are 12-segmented, ending in a distinct three-segmented club. Males are slightly larger, about 3 mm long, and are black with wings, although they do not fly. Queens are the largest, measuring 3.6 to 5 mm, and are dark red with wings that they shed after mating.
Pharaoh ants are highly adaptable and can thrive in a variety of environments, making them one of the hardest Pasco County ants to shake. They prefer warm, humid conditions and are often found nesting in wall voids, behind baseboards, under floors, and in other hidden, protected areas. In hospitals, they can be particularly problematic as they can spread pathogens, including staphylococcus and streptococcus. These ants are known for their “budding” behavior, where a portion of the colony, including several queens, workers, and brood, splits off to form a new colony. This makes them difficult to control, as disturbing a colony can lead to multiple new colonies forming.
Pasco County Ants: What to do if infested?
Ants are, unfortunately, a very hard infestation to deal with on your own. Practicing methods of exclusion and keeping your home clean will help. However, ants nest in foundations and wall voids, making them almost impossible to reach without specialized help.
Instead, visit our website at insectfree.com. Either fill out the pop-up on the home page, or call the listed number for a free consultation today. Let Earth’s Best show you why we’ve been in business for three decades!
