Dreaming Music Video Treatment _ Project & Portfolio III
Ghost ant control in Miami Dade South Florida
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3. Ghost Ant
• The ghost ant is considered a nuisance ant
pest that is a house pest throughout South
Florida.
4. The Tramp Ant
• The ghost ant is related with ant species also
known as tramp ants that are broadly
dispersed in subtropical and tropical areas
of the world. The fact is the ghost ant was
once referred to as the "tramp ant." In the
US, the ghost ant is well established
throughout Florida, and it is expanding.
5. Description Of Ghost Ant In Florida
• In Florida among residential and
commercial pest control the Ghost ant is
among the most difficult to control of the 8
most common found ant species. Ghost ant
workers are very small about 1/16 long, and
show no variation in morphology.
6. Ghost Ant Nesting Habits
• Ghost ants are highly adaptable in their
nesting habits. The colonies generally
occupy local sites that are too small to
support large entire colonies. Foragers are
very often seen primarily in kitchens and
bathrooms on sinks, counter tops, or on
floors. Inside homes the ants will colonizes
wall spaces, cracks, between books, void
between cabinets, and baseboards, they will
also create nest in potted plants.
7. Colonies
• Ghost ant colonies are broken into sub-
colonies that will occupy different nesting
sites throughout the home, they will
exchange back and forth along pheromone
or odor trails. They are opportunistic
nesters in places that will only remain
habitable for a few days or weeks.
8. Outdoors
• Outdoors nesting generally occurs in
disturbed areas, such as in flowerpots,
under loose bark, under objects on the
ground, and at the bases of palm fronds.
9. Multiple Queens Makes It Very
Difficult To Control
• They have multiple queens spread out through
multiple sub-colonies. New colonies are
generally formed by budding, this happens
when one or more female reproductives are
accompanied by several workers, and some
brood leave a colony for a new nesting site
starting a new sub colony. The colonies are not
antagonistic having any infighting between
members of another colony or nests this is why
they can be so prolific indoors.
10. Feeding Habits Of Ghost Ants
• Ghost ants can not only invade homes from
the outside, however they can nest in homes
as well. In the landscape the workers
scavenge around for dead insects and they
have a symbiotic relationship with plants
sucking insects like scale, aphids and
mealybugs collecting honeydew.
11. Ghost Ant Reproduction
• Reproduction though the laying of eggs.
There are 4 larval stages from the hatching
of the eggs to the adult stage. It is estimated
that the queens lays about 5 eggs per day
per queen. If you have 20 queens in your
home that would be about 100 eggs per day
or 700 per week. Egg development lasts
between 16 to 52 days.
12. Control Of Ghost Ants
• The best approach to ant control ghost ants
in the home is cleanliness. Any food or food
particles can attract the ant.
13. Baits
• Frequent application of sugar liquid and gel
baits are the most effective at controlling
ghost ants indoors, outside a periodic
application barrier treatments with a
combinations of liquid and granular
insecticides are required to control them
effectively.
