Florida has many different kinds of pests, best known being the mosquitoes and the roaches. Lesser known — but just as prevalent — are the many different kinds of ants Florida tends to have. When moving to Florida, many don't consider ant infestations one of the bigger problems they may face. There are nine main types of ants commonly found around Florida.
Carpenter Ants
Large reddish-black ants that tunnel through wood to create nests, though they don't eat it. They are commonly seen without wings, but if wings are present, it can indicate a swarm nearby. Carpenter ants primarily feed on insect honeydew, plant juices, and other insects, but will also eat sweets, grease, and other food found in your home. A rustling or crinkling sound from within walls or wood can signal a nest.
Red Imported Fire Ants
An invasive ant species native to South America that has become a significant pest in the southern United States. These reddish-brown ants build dome-like mounds in sunny open areas and are known to aggressively defend their nests, attacking and stinging in large numbers. Their venom can cause anaphylaxis in people with an allergy. They feed on crops like corn and soybeans and are known to impact native wildlife as well as cause significant economic damage through crop losses and treatment costs.
Ghost Ants
Ghost ants are bi-colored, with a dark brown or black head and thorax and a milky white or translucent abdomen, legs, and antennae. When crushed, they emit a distinctive coconut-like odor. Workers are extremely small — about 1.3 to 1.5 mm in length. These ants prefer warm, humid locations both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, they nest in wall voids, behind cabinets, and in baseboards. Outdoors, they nest in soil, under debris, and in plant cavities. Colonies can be moderate to large with multiple nests, making them hard to track and eliminate. They primarily feed on sweet substances, greasy foods, and other insects.
Argentine Ants
Small — about 2–3 mm long — and light to dark brown, Argentine ants form long trails and can be found in large numbers. They build shallow nests in moist areas under objects like rocks, mulch, and logs. Their diet includes sweets, insects, seeds, and honeydew. They can bite but do not have a stinger. Argentine ants are highly aggressive toward other ant species, outcompeting them for resources and leading to declines in native ant populations. They also negatively impact plants by neglecting seed dispersal that native ants once handled.
Pharaoh Ants
Light yellow to reddish with darker markings on the abdomen, Pharaoh ants prefer warm, humid, and dark places — frequently nesting inside wall voids, behind baseboards, under floors, and in electrical outlets. They are omnivorous, feeding on sweets, fats, proteins, and dead insects. They are known to infest food and can also be attracted to medical bandages. Pharaoh ants can travel long distances through pipes, wires, and utility lines, allowing them to spread throughout entire buildings.
Tawny Crazy Ants
About 3 mm long and covered with reddish-brown hairs, Tawny Crazy Ants are smaller than red imported fire ants. Their colonies live under stones or piles with no centralized nests or mounds. They tend aphids for honeydew, feed on small insects and vertebrates, and forage on plants for sweet materials. They appear to prefer the warmth and moisture of coastal areas.
White-Footed Ants
Black to brownish-black ants with distinctive yellowish-white feet and a body length of about 2.5–3 mm. They form steady, persistent trails along walls or trees to find food. Nests are commonly found under leaves, in loose mulch, under debris, in tree holes, and under palm fronds. They frequently nest inside homes in wall voids, attics, and behind siding or brick. Colonies can be very large and interconnected with multiple satellite nests, making them difficult to eliminate.
Pavement Ants
Commonly known as the "pavement ant" because workers are frequently found in pavements or roads while searching for food. They are a common nuisance pest but generally less aggressive than other species on this list.
Odorous House Ants
Uniformly brown to black, workers are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch long. A strong, rotten coconut-like smell is released when they are crushed — hence the name. These ants enter homes in search of food and water, are often found near moisture sources, in wall voids near pipes, or in kitchens and food storage areas. Colonies can be large, sometimes numbering from 100 to 10,000 ants both indoors and outdoors.
What to Do If You Have Ants
Different ant species require different treatment approaches — what works on ghost ants won't necessarily work on fire ants or carpenter ants. If you're seeing ants in or around your home, the best step is to call a professional who can identify the species and apply the right treatment.
If you are having trouble with ants or any other pests, call Turbo Pest Solutions at (352) 345-7572.
Written by a licensed pest control professional with hands-on experience serving residential and commercial properties in Citrus County, Florida, supported by consistent positive customer reviews on Google.