Ants

Food is what usually lures ants to our properties. Things like open trash cans, compost, and outdoor eating areas all communicate to ants that our yards are someplace they want to be. Gardens and fruit trees also attract ants. Many ants like to feed on sweet liquids, including honeydew, produced by garden pests like aphids. 

Many ants are also attracted to moisture. Yards with poor drainage, overwatered gardens, and clogged gutters are prone to problems with ants. If ants are nesting in your yard, they will likely find their way into your home while looking for food or a new nesting spot at some point in time.

Where will I find ants?

The specific location of ants and where they prefer to nest depends on their species. 

Red imported fire ants prefer to live and nest in open sunny areas, making our Florida yards perfect nesting spots. They will also nest in golf courses, meadows, parks, and any other wide-open spaces. These ants rarely move into our homes to nest. 

Southern fire ants like to nest in warm sunny areas but prefer to nest near moisture sources like along the edges of ponds or lakes or under rocks or logs. These ants sometimes move into homes to nest, usually creating a satellite nest in crawl spaces, behind wall voids, or under carpeting. 

Ghost ants will nest almost anywhere. Inside, they build nests behind sinks or tubs, behind walls near water pipes, or around windows or doors. Outside, these ants are a particular problem in gardens and greenhouses.

Big-headed ants nest outside in the damp soil next to cement slabs, foundations, at the base of trees, or near water pipes. Flower beds and flower pots are also common nesting spots. Big-headed ants don’t usually nest inside structures but do move in and out of our homes foraging for food.