Central Florida, which includes the Tampa area to Orlando,is one of the most modern areas in the state, and definitely one of the more exciting parts of the state when it comes to real estate, entertainment, and overall fun in the hot Florida Sun all year round.
However, before you decide to take the plunge and become a long-term (or semi-long term) resident of this big city in the sunshine state – or any of the surrounding suburbs in the region – you’re going to want to know about one of the largest past problems that the Central Florida region has to deal with: Ants. Lots and lots of ants.
There are more than 15 different types of ants living in the Tampa, area, and each and every one of them are going to need to be dealt with (professionally or on your own) if you are to enjoy your time spent in the area. Some of them are little more than a minor nuisance that you’ll want to snuff out just as quickly as you can, but others could potentially destroy your property if left alone for too long.
Here are just some of the most common types of ants found in the Tampa, Florida area.
Acrobat ants
One of the few types of ants in the Tampa region that (usually) will not go inside of your home, these Acrobat ants look surprisingly similar to most of the common black ants we see all throughout the US – and especially up north – though they are a little bit on the “supersized” side of things.
Everyday household pest control products can be used on their nests to get rid of them rather quickly.
Florida carpenter ants
The Florida carpenter ant, on the other hand, is one of the biggest nuisances in the Tampa Bay region.
Doing almost as much damage as a pack of termites (and looking a lot like termites when they are all swarmed together), these ants range from ¼ inch to ½ inch in length – and they bite!
They will chew through just about anything that they come in contact through, but absolutely love (LOVE) to get their mouths on pine and other wooden construction materials. Nocturnal by nature, you’ll want to flush them out right before the sun goes down to destroy them or call in professionals to get the job done for you.
Crazy ants
Called crazy ants because of their erratic movements and unpredictable patterns, these are pretty harmless ants unless you find them in your home. They always (ALWAYS) go after the sweets in the house, but can be led right back outside with a corn syrup trail – and then destroyed when that same trail leads to pesticides you’ve set up.
Red imported fire ants
One of the largest past problems in the Central Florida region, these ants are size huge (1/8 inch to ¼ inch in length) and sting like crazy. These red imported fire ants will bite for any reason whatsoever, and deposit a bit of a poison in your body that will itch, burn, sting, and bubble up into an almost boil like will that would last for days and days.
It’s best to call in the experts to flush them out and destroy them without you ever having to run the risk of getting bitten.
Ghost ants
The ghost ants do not sting or bite, and are almost always completely white with just a bit of black in the middle of their bodies. Fast-moving, but essentially harmless, if you’re sick and tired of dealing with them in your home plate straps of corn syrup along the way to lead them out of your home and back outside where you’ll get the chance to kill them with everyday pesticides.
Pete Kontakos discusses sports, business, marketing and green living a a blogger.