Many of us are already familiar with the tiny black sugar ants that make a line to the merest crumb or grain of sugar on your kitchen countertops or in your cupboards. But did you know that as a Florida homeowner, you have a wide variety of ants to deal with in and outside of your house?
In this article, we’ll look at some common ant types and what you can do to keep them from causing a nuisance.
Bigheaded Ants
Bigheaded (or big-headed) ants carry that name for a reason, and it’s not because they think so highly of themselves. Their heads are just much bigger than the rest of their bodies.
Another identifying factor is their color, which can be anywhere from yellow to dark reddish-brown. You can find bigheaded ants in your soil — they will also build nests on areas like pavers and sidewalks — or they may also climb up the outside walls of your home and through your windows. The kitchen is especially attractive as an entry point, since that is where they’ll find food.
You can help keep them out of your home by removing nesting areas – like rocks and logs – and placing them well away from your house. Bigheaded ants tend to establish a lot of large colonies, so a professional consultation and assessment is a good first step to controlling them.
Ghost Ants
Like bigheaded ants, ghost ants – they’re pale in color, hence the name — are fond of honeydew as a food source. That sweet tooth continues if they get indoors, where they seek out sugary food.
They also seek out water sources, which they will find in kitchen sinks and bathrooms. But you may also see them in baseboards, along the edge of carpets, and inside walls.
Another thing they have in common with bigheaded ants: They can be found outside nesting amidst logs and stones. And if you have foliage that touches your house, they’ll use that as an access point.
To keep them outside, here are a few tips:
- Remove firewood, mulch, logs, and stones away from your house
- Replace weatherstripping
- Keep a clean kitchen, one free from of grease and sugar
Piss Ants
Also known as piss ants, sugar ants, and odorous ants, these little buggers are often the kind you’ll find streaming across countertops and sinks to get to the sweet crumbs of food you left out.
Like the other ant types mentioned in this article, you’ll find piss ants anywhere within or outside of your home. They can be difficult to get rid of because their tendency is spread out to new areas when they detect repellant (whether it’s homemade or store-bought).
As with all of the other ant types mentioned in this article, using a professional may be your best course of action so that you don’t make a bad situation worse.
Crazy Ants
These are a relatively new addition to the Gulf coast habitat. Called “crazy” because of their erratic movement, they are reddish-brown in color, though they may also be darker, including black.
Crazy ants live in areas that serve as nests, including:
- Yard waste
- Hollowed-out logs
- Under stones
They’re also attracted to a variety of food sources — sweets, fruits, vegetables, grease, and meats — that make your house an attractive destination. And they don’t like the cold, so when the temperatures drop, they will head indoors.
The good news is that crazy ants nest outdoors. Through a little preventive action – wipe down kitchen countertops and seal up entryways with caulking and weatherstripping — you’ll help keep them where they belong – outside.
Schedule your free quote with JD Smith
A variety of ants can be inside your home or outside. They can be on or near trees, pavers, mulch, and right up against the foundation of your home. They may have even created mounds or pathways across your lawn.
Wherever they are, call the professionals at JD Smith Pest Control. We are so successful in our approach, that we stand behind our pest control guarantee: If ants return between our treatments, we will come out to address the problem for free.
Using the wrong method could cause your ant problem to get much worse, so leave the solution to our certified inspectors. We are ready to assess your situation and eliminate your ant problem. Schedule your free quote today.
