Tampa is one of the most bug ridden parts of the nation. It’s just the nature of having warm, sunny weather year round and a state-wide subtropical ecosystem that’s being pushed into the fringes more and more as the years pass. And among those bugs, ants are some of the worst. So now let’s talk about possible signs of a Tampa Ant Infestation, and what to look out for as a homeowner.
Tampa Ant Infestation: What kinds of ants live in Florida?
Unfortunately, this state is home to dozens of species of ants. Many of them aren’t even from the U.S. originally and are invasive. Ants like the first one we’ll be covering today.
fire ants
In fire ant country, it pays to be proactive and prepared for instances of infestation. Fire ants aren’t like most other ants on this list. They’re an aggressive species that pose a genuine threat to human life in large enough numbers.
Also known more properly as the Red Imported Fire Ant, fire ants are a species that are native to south America. These ants actually arrived in the united states around the 1930s, likely in soil used for ship ballast. Theses days, they’re found in all of the Southern United States, as well as Puerto Rico.
Fire ants nest in mounds or hills. These ants will build mounds in open, sunny pastures and fields. Fire ants will also build tubes that reach up into the air about a foot or two, usually near dead tree stumps or old wooden fence posts. Their venomous sting is painful and leaves a large, red bump behind. And when one of these ants attacks, they don’t stop until they are dead. Fire ants will grab you with their mandibles and sting repeatedly in a circular pattern in an attempt to inject as much venom into you as possible. It’s also likely that this venom attracts other ants to sting you as well, working kind of like a beacon to let other ants know that you’re a threat.
Some people are allergic to fire ant venom as well. It’s not unheard of for a victim of many stings to enter a state of shock. Small children and babies are particularly vulnerable to this pest species. This is one of the worst Tampa ant infestation pests you can get in your home or business.
Ghost ants
Next on our list is an ant you probably haven’t heard of. That is, unless you’ve dealt with an infestation before. Ghost ants are another invasive species not native to America. They can be recognized by their dark hades and translucent legs. Ghost ants are hard to see because of these colors. So you can probably guess where the name came from! They’re as hard to stop as ghosts.
This is a tiny species of ant, with average lengths ranging less than a few millimeters. This ant is so widespread that its native range isn’t actually known. It’s assumed that they originate from African or Asian regions, however, due to them being a tropical species. Ghost ants likely made their way to Florida on a cargo ship. Fire ants arrived here in much the same way as the assumed method for ghost ants.
This species is a particularly bad pest in Florida, even though it is expanding further north. They are commonly found in South and Central Florida and are one of the key pets in the region. One of their most problematic behaviors is their nest creation. Ghost ants create nests in wall voids, attics, and basements typically. But when a colony reaches its maximum size, it will put out a queen. This queen will then go out and establish more nests. And it doesn’t take long for an infestation of Ghost Ants to reach extremely worrying numbers, many thousands of ants in your walls at once!
Argentine Ant
And finally, another invasive pest. These ants are special, and have massive social networks that some scientists describe as only being rivaled by humanity’s own. The Argentine ant is an ant native to, of course, Argentina and many other parts of South America. This is a small species, only growing slightly larger than ghost ants. Their dull brown coloration makes them easily to spot however. Ant colonies of this species are massive and contain multiple queens.
This ant is unique in its lack of aggression within its colonies. To the point where it’s possible to consider this species a global mega-colony, as no two colonies will destroy each other as other species of ants might. Over the past century, this pest has become a truly global species and thrives in all warm and moist climates. The only continent that doesn’t have Argentine ants on it these days is Antarctica. And in its invasive range, this ant has displaced a great many native species, if not driven them to extinction. So you can consider any Tampa ant infestation with these pests to be part of the global super colony.
Tampa Ant Infestation: What do I do if ants have infested my home?
If you are truly dealing with an ant infestation, there are a few steps you need to take quickly as you can. The first is a general increase in tidiness. Ants can and will infest homes that are clean and clutter free, but those infestations tend to be smaller and less impactful. This is thanks to a lack of resources flowing into the colony. Make sure leaky pipes in your home are fixed as well, and that will greatly reduce ant numbers by depriving them of water.
But if you’re dealing with a true infestation, there’s not much a layman can do. This is a fast reproducing and possibly aggressive pest. Instead, visit our website at insectfree.com and call the listed number or fill out the pop up on the home page for a free consultation today. Let us show you why Earth’s Best pest control has been trusted to service Tampa homes and businesses for three decades!
