How to Get Rid of Small White Ants in West Palm Beach
Are you seeing tiny white ants or tiny clear ants around your home? While you might think they’re household sugar ants, they’re most likely ghosts ants, one of the most common ants in West Palm Beach.
Ghost ants are translucent white ants about 1.3-1.5mm long, and are the smallest ants in West Palm Beach that you’ll find in your home. You may not notice them when you only see a few, but a ghost ant infestation can lead to a lot of frustration for homeowners who try to eliminate it without professional help.
But not all hope is lost, there are many ways to control ghost ants in your home, and quickly reduce a large infestation. However, it can be tricky since there could be tons of reasons why ants are in your home in the first place.
Is it possible to get rid of ghost ants without a pest control company? Yes! Keep reading to learn how.
Locate the Ghost Ant Infestation
The first step to getting rid of ghost ants is to know where they’re coming from so you can figure out the treatment method. Look for the nest, which could be in a number of places. Ghost ants like to hide both inside and outside.
There are a few tricky things about locating ghost ants. First, ghost ants are very tiny clear ants. It can be difficult to pinpoint them, unless you have great vision.
Second, ghost ant infestations are often spread out. Colonies will have multiple queens that spread out into sub colonies. They will go back and forth between nest sites using different odor trails.
If you believe you’ve found a ghost ant nest, don’t stop there. There could be multiple nests throughout your home and yard. Outdoor colonies will often move inside, so if you see any little white or clear ants in your yard, it’s a good idea to take action to avoid an infestation in your home.
Where to Find Ghost Ants:
- In flowerpots
- Under loose bark
- At the base of palm fronds
- Under stones
- In cracks or wall voids
- Sinks
- Shower stalls
- Tubs
Make Your Home Unfriendly to Tiny White Ants
One of the best ways to get rid of ghost ants in your home is to take away everything they love: food and water. Ghost ants are often called “sugar ants” for their love for sweet foods. Leaving any trace of food out in the open can draw them to your home.
These food sources are mostly in the kitchen, so cleaning your kitchen can make a big difference. Start by making sure all food is stored away properly. Use airtight containers to keep food away from ghost ants, and avoid leaving food out overnight.
Next, set aside some time to reduce crumbs on your floors and counters. Sweep & mop floors and wipe down counters to keep ants from trailing in.
Bonus tip: Use citrus scented cleaners on affected areas to get rid of ghost ants. The acidity is considered toxic for ants.
The next way to make your home less friendly to ghost ants is to remove their water sources by eliminating excess moisture. Ghost ants love dark, moist places like many other pests like cockroaches and other common ants in West Palm Beach. To reduce moisture levels in your home, you can install a dehumidifier and/or extra fans.
However, it might not simply be a humidity issue. Any unaddressed plumbing issues can lead to ghost ants in your home. These issues can be as simple as clogged shower drains, or as tricky as hidden leaks.
We recommend that you have your plumbing inspected by a professional if you’re dealing with any ant infestation. If it turns out to be a simple leak repair, you could save a lot of time catching it early.
How is Honeydew Related to Ghost Ants?
What is a ghost ant’s favorite food? While you might be tempted to say it’s the food in your kitchen, there’s something else they like even more. That food is known as honeydew, which is common in trees and shrubs.
Honeydew is a sweet sticky substance that comes from sap-sucking insects such as aphids, whiteflies, mealybugs and scale. Ants love the sugar in honeydew (nothing new) and they will protect these insects so that they keep producing honeydew.
As long as these insects are around, ant infestations are likely. Native Pest Management offers free lawn inspections to determine whether honeydew producing insects are attracting ghost ants to your yard. If we find that this is the case, we provide lawn pest control services to get rid of whiteflies and other insects that are causing your ghost ant infestation.
Keep Ghost Ants Out For Good
A big reason why we find ghost ants in customers’ homes is simply because they have a way in - remove their way in and you can get rid of the ghost ants. Using a sealant like caulk is the best way to remove entry points of ghost ants.
Common Ghost Ant Entry Points
- Utility lines: Gaps where utility lines enter your home could have.
- Gaps in soffits, doors and windows: These can be easily sealed with caulk.
- Hitchhiking: Do you ever bring in patio furniture, potted plants, or toys that have been outside for a while? They might have ghost ants hanging on, so you could bring in an infestation yourself.
- Landscaping: Ghost ants are big climbers - if you have trees in your yard, they’re most likely hanging out on the branches. Make sure you keep tree branches trimmed away from your home so ants don’t use them as a bridge to your foundation or roof.
These are just a few ways that ghost ants in West Palm Beach end up in homes. It can be tricky to identify the true source of ghost ants in your specific home, and that’s where professionals come in.
Professional Ant Control in West Palm Beach
If you can’t figure out where ghost ants are coming from and how to get them out for good, Native Pest Management is a premium pest control company in West Palm Beach that can get rid of small white ants (ghost ants), and can also get rid of bigheaded ants, white footed ants, pharaoh ants, acrobat ants, Argentine ants, pavement ants, fire ants and more.
With our professional ant control services, your technician will identify the source of the ants and determine the best custom treatment plan for your situation. Using pet friendly and eco-friendly products, we’ll make sure every ant is gone. If your ant infestation doesn’t improve, we offer free follow-up services to all customers.
We offer ant control all over Palm Beach County, as well as Miami-Dade, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Leon Counties.
Don’t let ants take away your peace of mind–while it is entirely possible to get rid of ghost ants without a pest control company, putting your trust in the professionals is the easiest and fastest way.
Sit back and relax and let Native Pest Management get rid of the ghost ants in your home for good. Schedule pet friendly ant control with us today!