A Guide to Identifying the Most Common Types of Ants in Florida

What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

• Carpenter ants are among the largest ants in Florida, typically measuring between 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length.
• They vary in color, ranging from black to red or a combination of both.
• Workers have a robust, segmented body with a distinctive narrow waist and elbowed antennae.

The Behavior of Carpenter Ants

• Carpenter ants are polymorphic, meaning they have different-sized workers within the colony, including major workers responsible for defense and foraging.
• They are primarily nocturnal, with peak activity occurring during the warmer months.
• Carpenter ants excavate galleries in wood to create nesting sites, which can cause structural damage to homes and buildings.

What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

Carpenter ants are omnivorous, feeding on various sources, including insects, honeydew, and plant sap. Contrary to popular belief, they do not consume wood but instead tunnel through it to create nesting galleries.

Where Do Carpenter Ants Hide?

Carpenter ants nest in moist or decaying wood, such as tree stumps, fallen logs, or structural lumber in buildings. Their nests may also be found in insulation, hollow doors, and wall voids, particularly in areas with high humidity or water leaks.

What Attracts Carpenter Ants?

• Carpenter ants are attracted to damp or damaged wood, making homes with moisture problems or wood rot susceptible to infestations.
• Food sources such as honeydew-producing insects, pet food, and sugary substances can also attract carpenter ants to indoor spaces.

What Do Fire Ants Look Like? 

• Red imported fire ants are small ants, measuring between 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length.
• Workers are reddish-brown in color, with a darker abdomen, and have two nodes between the thorax and abdomen.
• They possess a stinger at the tip of the abdomen, which they use to inject venom when stinging.

The Behavior of Fire Ants

• Red imported fire ants are highly aggressive and territorial, often swarming and stinging in response to perceived threats.
• They build large, dome-shaped mounds in open, sunny areas, which can reach several feet in height.
• Fire ants are known for their rapid movement and coordinated attacks on prey and intruders.

What Do Fire Ants Eat?

Fire ants are omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of organic matter, including insects, seeds, fruits, and carrion. They are attracted to sugary substances and protein-rich foods, scavenging for food sources in both urban and natural environments.

Where Do Fire Ants Hide?

Fire ant mounds are commonly found in open, sunny areas such as lawns, pastures, and parks. Nests may also occur in agricultural fields, roadsides, and disturbed habitats with loose, sandy soil.

What Attracts Carpenter Ants?

• Red imported fire ants are attracted to warm, sunny environments with ample food and nesting resources.
• They are commonly found near food sources such as pet food, fallen fruits, and garbage bins, making residential areas and parks prime locations for infestations.

What Do Pavement Ants Look Like?

• Pavement ants are small to medium-sized ants, typically measuring around 1/8 inch in length.
• They have a dark brown to black body, with lighter appendages and a two-segmented pedicel (waist).
• Workers have parallel grooves on the head and thorax, giving them a ridged appearance.

The Behavior of Pavement Ants

• Pavement ants are commonly found nesting in or around pavement cracks, sidewalks, driveways, and patios, hence their name.
• They are territorial and aggressive towards other ant species, often engaging in skirmishes over territory and resources.
• Pavement ants exhibit a preference for nesting in areas with direct sunlight and moderate moisture levels.

What Do Pavement Ants Eat?

Pavement ants are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on a variety of food sources, including insects, seeds, honeydew, and human food scraps. They are attracted to sweets, proteins, and fats, making them common pests in residential areas, particularly in kitchens and garbage bins.

Where Do Pavement Ants Hide?

Pavement ants nest in shallow soil, under rocks, and in the cracks and crevices of pavement and concrete structures. Indoors, they may establish nests in wall voids, under floors, and in insulation, particularly near sources of food and moisture.

What Attracts Pavement Ants?

Pavement ants are attracted to areas with accessible food and water sources, making kitchens, pantries, and garbage cans prime locations for infestations. They are also drawn to moisture-prone areas, such as leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and condensation, both indoors and outdoors.

What Do Ghost Ants Look Like?

• Ghost ants are tiny ants, measuring approximately 1/16 inch in length, making them challenging to spot.
• They have a pale, almost translucent body, with a dark head and thorax, giving them their distinctive "ghostly" appearance.
• Workers are monomorphic, meaning they are similar in size and appearance.

The Behavior of Ghost Ants

• Ghost ants are known for their rapid movements and erratic behavior, making them difficult to track.
• They often form large colonies with multiple queens and nest indoors, particularly in warm, humid areas like kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms.
• Ghost ants establish foraging trails leading to food sources, which can extend throughout the home.

What Do Ghost Ants Eat?

Ghost ants have a preference for sugary substances but will also consume protein-rich foods and grease. They feed on a variety of food sources, including crumbs, spills, fruit juices, and honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects.

Where Do Ghost Ants Hide?

Ghost ants nest indoors, typically in wall voids, behind baseboards, and beneath flooring, where they have access to moisture and warmth. Nests may also occur in potted plants, electrical outlets, and appliances with hidden voids or crevices.

What Attracts Carpenter Ants?

• Ghost ants are attracted to warm, humid environments with easy access to food and water sources.
• They are commonly found near food storage areas, sinks, and garbage cans, where spills and crumbs provide ample foraging opportunities.

What Do Argentine Ants Look Like?

• Argentine ants are small ants, measuring around 1/8 inch in length, with light to dark brown bodies.
• They have a segmented body with a distinct narrow waist and antennae that are elbowed, giving them a segmented appearance.

The Behavior of Argentine Ants

• Argentine ants are highly adaptable and form extensive colonies with multiple queens, allowing them to establish supercolonies spanning vast areas.
• They are known for their cooperative behavior, with workers from different nests cooperating to forage and defend territory.
• Argentine ants are aggressive towards other ant species and can outcompete native ants, leading to declines in biodiversity.

What Do Argentine Ants Eat?

Argentine ants are omnivorous, feeding on a wide range of food sources, including insects, honeydew, fruits, and seeds. They are attracted to sweet substances and protein-rich foods, foraging both indoors and outdoors for food.

Where Do Argentine Ants Hide?

Argentine ants nest in soil, mulch, leaf litter, and debris, particularly in shaded or moist areas. Nests may occur near buildings, under stones, and along sidewalks, with foraging trails extending into nearby vegetation and structures.

What Attracts Carpenter Ants?

• Argentine ants are attracted to warm, moist environments with abundant food and nesting resources.
• They often invade homes in search of food and water, particularly during periods of drought or heavy rainfall.

What Do Harvester Ants Look Like?

• Florida harvester ants are relatively large ants, measuring between 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length.
• They have a reddish-brown body with a large head and powerful mandibles used for collecting seeds.
• Workers are monomorphic, meaning they are similar in size and appearance.

The Behavior of Harvester Ants

• Harvester ants are named for their behavior of collecting seeds as their primary food source.
• They form large, conspicuous nests in sandy soil, often located in open, sunny areas such as lawns, fields, and sand dunes.
• Florida harvester ants are essential for seed dispersal and play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health.

What Do Harvester Ants Eat?

Harvester ants are specialized seed collectors, feeding primarily on seeds and occasionally on insects. They forage individually or in small groups, collecting seeds and storing them in underground chambers within the nest.

Where Do Harvester Ants Hide?

Harvester ants construct large, crater-like nests in sandy soil, typically in open, sunny areas devoid of vegetation. Nests may contain multiple entrances and extend several feet underground, with foraging trails leading from the nest to nearby vegetation.

What Attracts Harvester Ants?

• Harvester ants are attracted to open, sunny habitats with sandy soil and abundant seed-producing plants.
• They are commonly found in natural areas such as prairies, sandhills, and coastal dunes, where they play a vital role in seed dispersal and ecosystem dynamics.

What Do White-Footed Ants Look Like?

• White-footed ants are small ants, measuring around 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length.
• They have a dark brown to black body with distinct pale or whitish tarsi (feet), giving them their name.
• Workers have a slender body and elongated antennae with a segmented appearance.

The Behavior of White-Footed Ants

• White-footed ants are known for their rapid movement and cryptic behavior, making them challenging to detect.
• They form large, interconnected colonies with multiple queens, often occupying extensive areas within buildings and landscapes.
• White-footed ants are non-aggressive towards humans but can displace native ant species and become a nuisance indoors.

What Do White-Footed Ants Eat?

White-footed ants primarily feed on honeydew produced by aphids, scale insects, and other sap-sucking insects. They also scavenge on sugary substances and protein-rich foods, making them common household pests.

Where Do White-Footed Ants Hide?

White-footed ants nest in a variety of habitats, including soil, leaf litter, mulch, and plant debris. Indoors, they often establish nests in wall voids, attics, and potted plants, preferring warm, humid environments.

What Attracts White-Footed Ants?

• White-footed ants are attracted to areas with abundant honeydew-producing insects, such as gardens, orchards, and ornamental plants.
• They may also be drawn to indoor spaces with accessible food sources, including kitchens, pantries, and pet feeding areas.

What Do Odorous House Ants Look Like?

• Odorous house ants are small ants, measuring around 1/16 to 1/8 inch in length.
• They have a dark brown to black body, often with a slightly reddish tint, and are uniformly colored.
• Workers emit a distinct, unpleasant odor when crushed, resembling the smell of rotten coconut or blue cheese.

The Behavior of Odorous Ants

• Odorous house ants form large colonies with multiple queens, allowing them to rapidly expand and establish satellite nests.
• They are omnivorous scavengers, foraging for a wide range of food sources both indoors and outdoors.
• These ants are known for their trailing behavior, following scent trails laid down by foragers to locate food and water.

What Do Odorous House Ants Eat?

Odorous house ants feed on a variety of food sources, including sweets, meats, fats, and insects. They are attracted to sugary substances, such as honey, syrup, and fruit juices, as well as greasy or protein-rich foods.

Where Do Odorous Ants Hide?

Odorous house ants nest in a variety of locations, including soil, leaf litter, mulch, and debris piles outdoors. Indoors, they commonly establish nests in wall voids, under floors, behind baseboards, and in moist or humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

What Attracts Odorous House Ants?

• Odorous house ants are attracted to areas with accessible food and water sources, making kitchens, pantries, and garbage cans prime locations for infestations.
• They may also be drawn to moisture-prone areas such as leaky pipes, dripping faucets, and water-damaged wood.

What Do Pharaoh Ants Look Like?

• Pharaoh ants are tiny ants, measuring around 1/16 inch in length, with a pale yellow to reddish-brown body.
• They have distinctive dark markings on the abdomen and two segmented antennal clubs.
• Workers are polymorphic, with varying sizes within the colony, and are difficult to distinguish without magnification.

The Behavior of Pharaoh Ants

• Pharaoh ants are highly invasive and adaptable, forming large colonies with multiple queens and thousands of workers.
• They exhibit complex social behaviors, including nest budding, where colonies split into multiple satellite nests to expand their territory.
• Pharaoh ants are known for their ability to infest hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities, posing a significant challenge for pest control professionals.

What Do Pharaoh Ants Eat?

Pharaoh ants are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on a wide range of food sources, including sweets, proteins, fats, and insects. They are attracted to sugary substances such as syrups, jellies, and fruits, as well as protein-rich foods like meats and pet food.

Where Do Pharaoh Ants Hide?

Pharaoh ants nest in warm, humid environments, often found in wall voids, electrical outlets, and behind baseboards indoors. They may also establish nests in outdoor locations such as soil, leaf litter, and debris piles, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions.

What Attracts Pharaoh Ants?

• Pharaoh ants are attracted to areas with accessible food and water sources, making kitchens, pantries, and food storage areas susceptible to infestations.
• They are also drawn to warm, humid environments, making bathrooms, laundry rooms, and heating systems potential nesting sites.

Professional Ant Control

Identifying each type of ant can help you gauge damage and find ways to keep them at bay. But if you are looking to get rid of ants for good, we just reaching out to our team of professional ant exterminators. Our local professionals are experts in ant identification and help you set up a treatment plan to protect your home from ants and other pests year-round. Contact us to learn more today!