Of all the annoying pests that can find their way into your home, ants are some of the worst. There are many different types of ant species, and some can do more damage than others. Ant infestations are common in the United States, and you can get rid of some of them easily, but there are some cases where ant control isn't as simple as you may have thought.
Pest control for ghost ants in or around your home is a little different than it is for other species of ants.
Here, we can teach you a little bit about how to get rid of ants in your home, ghost ant control, how ghost ants get into your home, what to do about colonies, and what to do if you can't get rid of ghost ants on your own.
Unlike bed bugs that like to bite, having a ghost ant colony in human homes does not pose an immediate threat to the humans living there.
They can certainly be annoying, but they do not have stingers and do not bite, so they are no more harmful to humans than house ants.
Even if not an actual threat, ghost ants can cause other problems if left unchecked, and you should take steps to get rid of the ghost ants in your home.
Ghost ants can get into any entry points large enough for their bodies to fit through in the foundation or walls of your home.
If you live in South Florida, you are at a greater risk of having these ants enter your home since this part of the country is where they thrive.
Once inside your home, ghost ants usually tend to nest in wall voids, between cabinets, in the soil of potted plants, indoor trees, and shrubs, or between your cabinets.
The workers can even get under the edges of your carpet and even along some electrical wires in the voids in the walls where they like to nest.
Ghost ants need a great deal of moisture to thrive, so it is also wise to check for them in places where water is a common factor, like kitchens and bathrooms.
Be sure to check your plant pots and wet areas of your home if you suspect that you may have a problem with ghost ants.
There are a few things that can lead ghost ants through entry points in your home.
Ghost ants love moisture, which is why they are so predominant in south Florida.
Anything that ghost ants view as a food source can attract them, but they have been known to be partial to sweet foods when they make it inside of a home.
Be sure to tightly seal containers of food, remove any plants that produce honeydew, and frequently check any household goods that provide a good hiding spot for ghost ants to nest.
Ghost ants get their name from their appearance because of their small size and translucent color. Their scientific name is Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricus).
They are genetically similar to other species of ants such as the Pharaoh ant, sugar ants, and odorous house ants.
Ghost ants are most commonly found in south Florida because of the climate.
The worker ants are about 1 5 mm long, with pale legs and abdomens and dark brown heads and thoraxes, which are moderate to large in size.
They share a unique trait with the odorous house ant in that they emit a smell vaguely resembling coconut when they are crushed.
Their size and color give them their name but is also what makes them difficult to detect when these ants enter your home. They may be small, but they pose an enormous inconvenience.
Using non-repellent bait stations to get rid of ghost ants is the most effective way to get rid of them as opposed to spraying or trying to locate and eliminate queens.
Ghost ants are led by queens in their colonies, and many people often think that getting rid of the queen might get rid of the entire colony.
Spray-style ant control products could potentially just scatter the colony instead of actually getting rid of it, in addition to being slow-acting and mostly ineffective, so this is not the method recommended by most experts.
Stick with bait traps that lure ants inside and eliminate them that way. Many bait stations kill ants inside of them, so you don't have to deal with extensive and messy cleanup.
Study the ants to figure out the best places the lay bait. Once you can figure out the nesting habits of the colony in your home, you know where to put your ant bait in order to have a better chance of luring them in.
If the ant baits you are using don't seem to be working, the solution could be something as simple as changing the type of bait you're using.
Always remember that ghost ants are enticed by sweet baits, so if you aren't using something they like to lure them in, it might not work.
Calling a professional service may also be your best bet to get ghost ants out of your home.
Sometimes, dealing with your pest problem on your own doesn't always work out the way you think it's going to. Despite your best efforts, pests can be stubborn and resilient.
If you have tried ant bait for ant control in your home and have still not had any luck in ridding yourself of your ant infestation, it might be time for some professional pest control options.
Ghost ant colonies don't just disappear overnight or after one try. It can take multiple, repeated, and frustrating attempts before you start to see any progress with your extermination efforts.
If you still can't get rid of ghost ants after multiple baits or traps, your version of pest control might not be what gets rid of the ants in your house.
It doesn't matter how much research you do or how carefully you select and set your bait; sometimes, it just doesn't work the way you had hoped.
Ghost ants are notoriously much harder to deal with than other types of ants, and that's why most professional services specialize in taking care of them for you.
If you have tried everything you can think of and are still not seeing the desired results, 24H Pest Pros might be the solution for all of your problems.
24H Pest Pros is a trusted name in pest control for your pest problem. We can provide the type of help you need to get rid of ghost ants, and we can do it in a friendly and professional manner so that you don't have to worry about a single thing.
We look for where ghost ant workers create nesting sites, seek out their colonies and sub-colonies, and provide all the necessary services in order to eliminate them from your home.
Ants, ant colonies, and all other pests stand no chance against our experience and expertise when it comes to dealing with them.
Unlike other ants, ghost ants can be extremely difficult to eliminate for good on your own, but that's why 24H Pest Pros are here for you!
Any ants, ghost or otherwise, are sure to be gone once we have finished our work at your house!
You should contact us if all forms of pest control you have tried haven't been working for you up until this point. If you are tired of trying to deal with the problem on your own and only seeing little results or mixed results, 24H Pest Pros could be the answer to your problems.
Your homes are as important to us as they are to you, and we take great pride in the services we provide and the peace of mind we can give you.
We can get rid of ghost ants as well as other problems like a bed bug situation, a flying termite problem, or any other pest issue that is creating havoc within your home.
If you have a bed bug issue, we can take care of those bed bugs just as easily and professionally as we can take care of the ghost ants around your home.
All it takes for us to provide you with our incredible customer service and friendly technicians are for you to reach out to us today with your problem.