Ghost Ants Infestation

Ghost Ant Infestations

A sighting of small ghost ant workers is the usual sign of their presence. New colonies often are formed when a queen and a contingent of workers separating from the main colony to form a new colony elsewhere. This can happen multiple times, depending on the number of queens.

When ghost ants make nests indoors, it is usually in flowerpots, behind baseboards and inside wall voids. The colony may split into several nests. It is normal to find ghost ants trailing between multiple nesting sites.

When Ghost Ants Show Up and What Brings Them In

Because they are so small and pale, ghost ants are easy to miss until they find food. The usual first sighting is a thin, fast-moving line of tiny ants at the kitchen sink, on a counter, around a sugar bowl or fruit bowl, or in a bathroom near a damp vanity or toothbrush holder.

What draws them indoors:

• Moisture, such as leaky plumbing, damp cabinets under sinks, and condensation around windows and AC units
• Sweets and sticky spills, plus pet food and dead insects for protein
• Aphids, scales, whiteflies and mealybugs on shrubs next to the house, which pull foraging trails close to doors and windows
• Heavy rain, which can flood outdoor nests and send colonies looking for drier spots

A quick way to find their route: put a dab of honey or jelly on an index card where you have seen them and check back in 30 minutes to an hour. Trace the line that forms back to where it disappears into a crack, outlet, baseboard gap or window frame. That spot is close to a nest or an entry point.

In Central and South Florida, ghost ants are active year-round and often most noticeable in the warm, wet months. In North Florida they are less common outdoors and are more likely to be found inside heated buildings or arriving in potted plants. To confirm what you are seeing, compare with the ghost ant identification guide.