Why are ants inside your home?

Different ant species invade homes for various reasons. Some are in search of food and water, while others are looking for a new nesting site to escape harsh outdoor conditions. In the Tampa Bay area, ghost ants are a common indoor species. Often called "sugar ants" or "piss-ants," these ants are very small and difficult to detect, especially on light-colored surfaces, due to their translucent legs and abdomens. Ghost ants feed on carbohydrates, especially sugars, and often enter homes in search of food or when heavy rain floods their outdoor colonies. Their colonies can vary in size, ranging from 100 to over 1,000 workers. Typically nesting outdoors, ghost ants tend to aphids, sap-sucking insects that produce honeydew, which serves as food for the ants. Ghost ants protect aphids from predators to ensure their food supply. Many homeowners try to eliminate these ants on their own but often fail due to a lack of understanding of ant behavior, incorrect product use, or not rotating baits with different active ingredients. At Central Pest Control, we understand ghost ant habits and know where to find their nests, allowing us to provide effective and safe control.