One thing that isn’t going to go away with the cooler temperature of winter is ants. Tampa fire ants are Florida’s plague at this point. We have ants all over the place, from native to invasive, that make a trip to the park nothing more than a pipe dream. And if they get into your house, you really have no option but to call a Tampa ant exterminator. That’s why today we’re going to go over a few of the state’s ant species, and what to do if you have an infestation on your home or in your property.
Tampa Fire Ants
These guys are probably the worst you’ll find on this list. The fire ant is blackish to reddish, and have copper brown colored heads. They favor warm, sunny conditions and prefer dry fields and avoid shady areas such as woods. Typical mounds can grow up to 61 cm in diameter and 18 cm high. These colonies can contain several hundred thousand ants, including at least one queen.
These guys aren’t native to Florida, and these red imported ants may also move into your yard. This is usually a result of infested plants or grass being used in your home’s landscaping. Their colonies can grow large enough to extend across several properties, so control can be challenging.
When the Tampa fire ants attack you, they use their mandibles to grip their prey. They inject venom into you than through a stinger. Tampa fire ants are painful for most humans, and downright fatal to some. You may experience reactions such as sweating, nausea, or excessive itching. Emergency medical services should be contacted if you start to feel these symptoms. Their sting includes alkaloid venom and is highly irritating to humans. This can result in you breaking out in red bumps with white pustules that can lead to scarring. A fire ant colony may contain 100,000 to 500,000 insects, thus increasing the likelihood that multiple stings will be inflicted.
To avoid bites or stings outside, make sure to watch where you step. If they move into the home, you’ll almost certainly need to call the Tampa ant exterminator.
Ghost Ants
These are a pest that I’ve had to deal with myself. Ghost ants are extremely small and pale in color, which makes them hard for you to see. Workers are all the same size, and these ants can be distinguished from other ants by a few characteristics.
They’re very small like I said and hard to see. Their head and thorax are dark in color, while their abdomen and legs are pale and white. They’re also hairless and have no sting. Ghost ants emit a foul odor when crushed.
Ghost ants enter buildings on trails that they make along the ground. They also enter houses by trailing on utility lines or tree limbs and shrubs that touch the house. When ghost ants make nests indoors, it is usually inside wall voids or behind cabinets and baseboards. They will also build nests in flowerpots or other moist areas.
So what should you do if you find yourself stuck with an infestation?
Tampa Ant Exterminator
Ant infestations are near impossible to get rid of alone. Make sure to contact a local Tampa ant exterminator and get this done correctly and quickly.
