EEEK! A GHOST!

 

Some call them sugar ants, others call them pests, we call them ghost ants. No matter what you refer to them as, we all consider them to be a nuisance. So with Halloween around the corner, we find it appropriate to blog about them.

 Here in FL, ghost ants are a very common household pest dating back as early as 1988. Within the last 15 years or so, they have elevated in status from just a household pest to a major pest problem and are most commonly found in warm and tropical climates. These unwelcome, trick or treaters have become well established in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas.

Ghost ants are small in size (less than 1/16 of an inch long) and they do not bite or sting. Their ghostly appearance on dark surfaces is due to their opaque abdomen and legs and their dark brown head and thorax.

 Ghost ants are small enough to enter through the tiniest holes and cracks in caulking and foundations or from shrubs, plants, and/or tree limbs touching the home.

Outdoors, these ants can be found in mulch, the base of palm fronds, under loose bark, plant stems, in hollow supports for pool enclosures and screened porches, or clumps of moist, dead grass, just to name a few. So, the first step in prevention outdoors is to trim landscaping and trees to keep limbs from touching the home or business and repair any leaky hoses, roofing, or plumbing.

Indoors, they will colonize in baseboards, wall voids, potted plants, spaces between cabinets. Once they have found their way inside, they can be found trailing to and from sinks/bathtubs in search of moisture. The best way to control these little pests indoors is cleanliness. Keep food sealed in air tight containers, wipe up any spills or crumbs immediately, and reduce moisture sources such as plumbing leaks and condensation.
Control is normally not necessary except when the ghost ants become a nuisance.  If your home is being over-run with these little demons give Acme a call.  We can provide a price over the phone and peace of mind that your home can once again be ghost (ant) free.
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!