
Ants

Florida is home to 231 different species of ants. At APE Pest Control, we are dedicated to keeping you safe from each and every one! Our experts are here to share the most common ants you might see in or near your home year-round. These social insects live in colonies with one or more queen present. Queens can live up to 15 years while the average lifespan for workers is between 4-7 years. Queens and alates (reproducing males) have wings for a portion of their lifespan. They "swarm" to mate, then the males die, and the Queens shed their wings to start a new colony. Nests are found underground, in trees, or within structures such as your home. Ants are a common household insect that have been known to transmit diseases such as Salmonellosis and Staphylococcus. Ants enter a home in search of food and water, or setup colonies in your outdoor living spaces.
Common Types of Ants in Southwest Florida







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Florida Carpenter Ants "Camponotus floridanus"
Florida carpenter ants are fairly large by ant standards, up to 11mm (about .5”) long. Their orange and black bodies make them pretty easy to identify. Naturally living outdoors in decayed wood, trees, and shrubs, they become a nuisance indoors in attics, ceilings, floors, around windows & doors, or cabinets. If you find a pile of sawdust in these areas, you may be dealing with termites, or it could be carpenter ants. Either way, you need a professional to inspect your home immediately, as this could also indicate structural damage.
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Fire Ants "Solenopsis Invicta"
Red imported fire ants are more aggressive than most ant species and will gladly sting you if you mistakenly walk too near their mounds. They grab ahold of their prey (or sometimes your ankles) by biting and then sting using their abdomens to inject toxins. The location of the bite may be sore and/or itch for several days. For people who are hypersensitive, there can be even greater risks. While red imported fire ants feed mostly on young plants, they can attack and kill small animals. These ants have blackish to reddish bodies with copper-colored heads. Red imported fire ants prefer to nest under logs or rocks but often make dome-shaped mounds near driveways, patios,, mulchbeds, and lawns.
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Ghost Ants "Tapinoma melanocephalum"
Known for their small size and elusive behavior. They have a pale, almost translucent appearance, making them difficult to spot. These ants often invade homes in search of food and moisture, particularly favoring sweet substances. Their presence can be a nuisance, as they can contaminate food and create trails in kitchens and other areas.
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​Bigheaded Ants "Pheidole megacephala"
Mounds of sand collecting along the edges of your driveway or between cracks in the sidewalk? It could be bigheaded ants. These ants love to cover their foraging trails with dirt and debris, so sometimes they are confused with subterranean termites which also create mud tubes as they forage. Inside the home, the dirt piles made by the bigheaded ant can be a nuisance. As their name implies, some of these ants have big heads compared to other members of their colony. They are referred to as major workers or soldiers, whereas the members with smaller heads are called minor workers. Bigheaded ants are omnivorous and will feed on sweets, other insects, and soil invertebrates.
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Acrobat Ants aka "Crematogaster ashmeadi"
Acrobat ants in Florida are occasional structural pests named for their defensive arched posture. They nest in deadwood outdoors and can tunnel through damp wood indoors, similar to carpenter ants. These ants exhibit mutualism with aphids, feeding on their honeydew. Indoor nests often occur in moisture-damaged wood, including old termite or carpenter ant galleries, and they forage in kitchens and pantries. Provoked workers can bite and emit a foul odor. Notably, they can infest foam core insulation and strip wire insulation, creating a fire risk. If you suspect you have acrobat ants dancing around with their butts in the air, call in the pros at APE Pest Control ASAP!
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Rover Ants "Brachymyrmex patagonicus"
Rover ants are one of the smallest pest ants you may encounter. They only grow up to 1.5-2 mm (1/16-1/12”) long and are dark brown or black in color. These are particularly challenging to detect, because they tend to infest the cavities inside of walls. Outside, they nest in mulch or under debris lying on the ground and, like many ant species, feed on the honeydew produced by sap-sucking insects. In the home, these ants are attracted to areas with moisture such as bathrooms or kitchens. They can also become a nuisance outside when large numbers of the winged swarmers end up accidentally in swimming pools.
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Sugar Ants aka Odorous House Ant, Stink Ant, or Coconut Ant "Tapinoma sessile"
Odorous house ants, common in Florida, are nuisance pests known for the rotten coconut odor they emit when crushed. These small, brown ants are difficult to control due to their cooperative nature between multiple nests, allowing them to quickly dominate invaded areas. Often called sugar ants, they p readily enter homes, especially during rainy weather, to forage for food, especially attracted to sweet sticky substances, hence the "sugar ant" nickname. Also relatively small, even by ant measurements, they prefer nesting in shallow soil under objects or in stacked materials and seek moisture indoors. Professional extermination is recommended for infestations
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