Living in the Port St. Lucie area of Florida, we are fortunate to experience sunshine, beaches, and outdoor living. Unfortunately, household pests like this weather, too. We’re all too familiar with the various pests and bugs that can infest our homes. From termites to bed bugs, pests can carry diseases, cause damage, and are generally a nuisance.
Want to learn about other pests common to Port St Lucie? Check out our complete pest control guide:
Port St. lucie Pest Control Guide
Pest control in Port St. Lucie can be a challenging task. Although there are several pests that are challenging for exterminators to control, there’s one pest we will focus on today –the adaptable ghost ant. As you may know, ants are a common nuisance pest and their activity increases during the warmer months.
Ants are one of the most common household pests, and for good reason. They are small, live in relatively large colonies, and incredibly difficult to get rid of once they have established a foothold in your home. But when it comes to the hardest pests to eliminate in Port St. Lucie, Florida, one ant species stands out in particular: the ghost ant.
These tiny, nearly translucent ants are notoriously difficult to detect and even more challenging to eradicate. They can invade your home in large numbers, and because they are so small and elusive, they can be challenging to track down and eliminate. But don’t despair – with the right tools and strategies, it is possible to get rid of ghost ants and other stubborn pests once and for all. In this blog post, we will explore the hardest pests to eliminate in Port St. Lucie, and offer tips and tricks for keeping your home pest-free.
The Ghost Ant – The Persistent Forager
Ghost ants (a.k.a. Tapinoma melanocephalum) are small ants that are commonly found in warm and humid environments, particularly in the Port St. Lucie area of Florida. Ghost ants have a unique appearance, with a pale or translucent body and a darker head and thorax, which makes them look “ghost-like”; hence their name.
What do ghost ants feed on?
Like some of us, ghost ants have a “sweet tooth” and prefer to feed on sugary foods such as honey, syrup, and fruit juices. They also feed on other insects and small animals such as spiders, aphids, and termites. Ghost ants will often form a trail to a food source, allowing the entire colony to access the food source.
Where do ghost ants live?
Since they love warm and humid environments, ghost ants are commonly found living indoors in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Ghost ants are attracted to these areas because they provide easy access to food and water sources. They can also be found living outdoors in soil, debris, or under rocks.
Where do ghost ants’ nest?
Ghost ants have small nests typically located in cracks and crevices, under rocks, and in soil. They are known to nest in walls, attics, where moisture collects, and other indoor areas where they can remain hidden. They often form multiple nests in one area, which can make it difficult to control an infestation.
Are ghost ants dangerous?
Ghost ants are not considered to be dangerous pests to humans or pets. However, they can become a nuisance when they infest your Port St Lucie home, especially since they can contaminate food and surfaces. If you are allergic to ants or have a severe reaction to ant bites or stings, it is important to avoid contact.
What does it feel like to be bitten by a ghost ant?
If you do encounter a ghost ant, you may feel a slight pinch or tickle. Also, they tend to release a strong odor when disturbed, which can be unpleasant. The odor is produced by the ant’s defensive glands and is used to deter predators and protect the colony.
How do ghost ants reproduce?
Ghost ants reproduce through a process called budding. This means that when the colony reaches a certain size, the queen will produce new queens and workers, forming a new colony nearby.
This process can lead to multiple colonies in a single area, which can make exterminating an infestation more difficult. Ghost ants can also be inadvertently transported to new areas through infested plants or other materials.
How do they appear and disappear so quickly?
Due to their small size, they can move easily through cracks and crevices, and enter and exit a room through microscopic openings that might not be visible to the naked eye. They are highly adaptable and have a unique behavior pattern that makes them difficult to control. Known for their rapid movement and ability to appear and disappear seemingly out of nowhere, they are difficult for exterminators in Port St. Lucie to track and control them.
Ghost ants use pheromones to create a trail between their nest and a food source. This trail leads many ants to a food source, allowing them to collect food and transport it back to their nest in a very efficient and quick manner. Once the food source is depleted, the ants will disperse, and the trail will disappear.
Ghost ants are highly sensitive to disturbances and will quickly retreat into their nest if they sense danger. This makes it challenging for Port St. Lucie exterminators to track and control the nest, especially if it is in a hard-to-reach area such as inside a wall.
How to prevent ghost ant infestations
To control pests in your Port St. Lucie home, it is important to eliminate potential food and water sources and seal any cracks or crevices. Regular cleaning and proper food storage can also deter ghost ants. If an infestation occurs, contact a Port St. Lucie pest control professional or exterminator to eliminate the colony.
Expert Port St. Lucie Pest Control
When you work with Turner for pest control for your Port St. Lucie home, we treat the inside and outside of your home thoroughly. No crack is left untreated. No crevice is left untouched. In fact, we inspect your home with a fine-tooth comb to examine and treat every penetration point, even under your appliances.
Get started with pest control in Port St. Lucie today! Contact us online or call (772) 223-9891 for a free quote. We’ll send the best professionally trained technicians to use the latest, safest, and most environmentally friendly products available today. Count on us for complimentary follow-ups and easy payment plans.
