If you live in Florida, then you know we have a serious ant problem. Either that or you’re very new. But either way, this state has a serious ant problem. From the ultimately harmless but extremely annoying ghost ant to the genuinely dangerous to small children and animals fire ants! If you have an ant infestation, contact us through our website or at 1-800-634-1313. Otherwise, stick around while we discuss Wesley Chapel ant control, cover some of the species you may find, and give you some tips on what to do with an infestation.
Wesley Chapel Ant Control: Overview
With each ant that you come up against, there are going to be different methods you need to take. Worldwide, there are hundreds of species of ants. Unfortunately, thanks to our status as both a shipping state and travel destination, you can find a good number of those species here. But with all the different species of ants around the sunshine state, it’s easy to get confused. So let’s get into some of the most common species you’ll find in Wesley Chapel.
Fire Ants
Nothing will have me running for some Wesley Chapel ant control like fire ants. Fire ants nest in the ground and create visible mounds that are huge and tall. Large colonies of ants can have up to two hundred and fifty thousand workers and span multiple yards. They’re very active scavengers and aggressive hive defenders. When these ants go in, they mean business.
When they attack, fire ants first use their mandibles to grip their prey. And it hurts! After that the real fun begins, though, and you quickly learn where their name comes from. After gripping their prey, they inject venom into it through a stinger. Fire ant stings are very painful to most people and can be fatal to those who are young and repeatedly stung while being even worse if you’re allergic. Their sting, which includes an alkaloid venom, is hugely irritating to humans and results in red bumps that swell up and turn white like an oversized zit. Gets enough of these in one area, you can even end up with scarring and pockmarks.
Why I consider this ant to be semi-dangerous for young pets and people is simply due to their nature. When defending a hive that, say, your child walked into on accident, fire ants are known to attack en masse. They don’t send one or two workers out to defend, no, they’ll pour out by the thousands. And the chemicals in their stings? Well, those actually attract other ants. Each sting is like a big flashing sign that says “needs more stings!” to the ants.
Controlling these guys is something you should leave to the pros. Even if you’re an adult, a few thousand swollen pustules are still not something anyone wants to deal with.
Ghost ants
Another invasive species down here is the ghost ant. These guys are small, pale ants that are difficult to see- hence the name. They do have dark heads and thoraxes, though. That’s how I tend to notice them. And yes, I’ve had to deal with these guys multiple times in my own home. Living in Florida these days, it’s a matter of when not if, you’ll have to deal with an infestation.
On a personal level, these guys are much less serious than fire ants. They’re not powerful, venomous stingers like the fire ants. What they are, however, is stubborn. Ghost ants usually have multiple nesting sites, as new queens leave their colonies when they’re born and go to create their own. This pest will build nests in various places. This includes frequently disturbed areas like potted plants or bookshelves. You’ll find them in great numbers in greenhouses as well, so make sure to do a sweep through those to see if you need some Wesley Chapel ant control! Inspect any plant or mulch you purchase at the store, an infestation of these guys is easy to overlook. And once they’re inside they become much more difficult to handle.
They create their nests in odd places, which is part of why they’re so numerous and hard to deal with. Any type of food crumbs or spills attract these ants, so cleanliness is a must to keep their numbers from ballooning once you notice them in the house. They don’t sting, as I mentioned above, and rarely bite. Their threat really does come from contaminating your food, damaging your property by nesting in it, and just kind of…crawling all over you whenever they get the chance.
Yeah, these guys are annoying.
Wesley Chapel Ant Control: What to do when infested?
I’ve always maintained that keeping bugs out of your home is just as important as getting them out once they’re there. So, let’s go over some basic prevention tips. Obviously, my number one recommendation for keeping pests out is always general cleanliness. This always starts with the sink.
Nothing like a dirty sink will attract pests. They catch food, water, soda, crumbs, and all sorts of delicious goodies all day. And the cabinets below? Well, that’s just a perk for the bugs! Free shelter! In general, reducing clutter in and around your home is recommended as well. Bugs don’t do well in flat, open areas inside the home with little place to hide.
As for the outside, move firewood piles away from your home. Mulch as well. Wood that’s rotting is one of the favorite hiding places, food sources, and shelters for all sorts of pets in Florida. Honestly, I’d recommend gardening a small distance from your house in general.
But when it comes to an actual infestation? Go ahead and contact us. This is one you’ll want to leave to the pros, as the pesticide is not a toy. Applications of chemicals done improperly can lead to damage to you and your home. On top of that, the rapidly reproducing pests that inhabit Florida can develop resistances and immunities within a few short generations. All-in-all, go with a licensed pro that uses a natural method for the best and safest results.
