Types of Ants Found in Ocklawaha, FL; Carpenter, Pavement, Pharaoh Ant Species & More

A is for ant. A is for ants are annoying! No one wants to deal with them. Ants are the most common pest that exterminators deal with. The size of their colonies makes them one of the most difficult to control. One ant colony can number in the thousands and one property can have more than one colony. The world is home to thousands of species of ants making it hard to escape them.

Tiny Black Ants & Other Ant Species Found in Florida

Carpenter ants are about 5/8” long and are usually black. They can have reddish or yellowish coloration depending in the species. They will make burrows in damp wood and can damage solid wood. They don’t eat the wood but move remove it to create nests.
Pavement ants are about 1/8” long. They are light brown to black in color with appendages that are lighter than the rest of their body. They will create nests in the cracks of pavement and can infest buildings.
Red imported fire ants can be 1/8” to 3/8” in size and are reddish in color. They will make large mounds for nests. These ants can inflict a painful sting and will come into buildings through cracks and crevices.
Pharaoh ants are about 1/16” long. They have light yellow bodies with red and black markings. They are commonly found in restaurants, apartment buildings, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.

Are Ants Harmful?

The ants that we encounter in Florida are either a nuisance pest like the pavement ant or a wood destroying pest like the carpenter ant. But the fire ant can be dangerous. They are well known for the painful, burning sting that can lead to pustules. The intense itching and can last for 10 days and infection can occur when these pustules are broken. These ants can cause allergic reactions with symptoms that range from rashes, swelling, paralysis or anaphylactic shock. While it is rare, death can result in a severe allergic reaction.

Ant Prevention

Ants will enter our homes looking for food and water and will eat almost anything depending on the species. They will come in through cracks around windows and doors. They will also come in through holes for wiring or utilities. Use caulk to seal as many openings as you can find. After the openings have been sealed you need to clean around them to remove pheromone trails. Remove all attractants and take care of any moisture issues in the home. Foraging ants make up a very small number of the ants that are in the colony. The colony will have to be located for successful control. Colonies can be far away, making this difficult. The best results also occur when the ant is correctly identified, and the right baits are used. When treatment done close to the nest, it will be more successful rather than widespread treatment.

Ant Control

Foraging habits and colony size make ants difficult to control. Contact the professionals at Pest 911 to get rid of ants and to receive regular pest control service to keep them away for good. Give us a call today!