October 17th, 2016

While ghost ants don’t wear white sheets and say “boo,” they’re still just as elusive. Little white apparitions that suddenly appear and just as suddenly disappear are not Halloween ghosts, but rather Ghost Ants. Found inside or outside a home, they are often seen in bathrooms and kitchens where there is plenty of moisture. These little critters are 1/16 in. long with pale, almost translucent legs and antennae, abdomen and a black head. They are sometimes known as Black-Headed ants.

Like many ants, they live in colonies and can have several queens per colony. Ghost ants enter buildings on trails that they make along the ground, on utility lines or tree limbs and shrubs that touch the house. When ghost ants make nests indoors, it is usually inside wall voids or behind cabinets and baseboards. They also build nests in flowerpots or other moist areas.

Their preferred food includes sweets and grease/proteins. 

Ghost ants do not have stingers and rarely, if ever, bite people. The real headache caused by ghost ants is their tendency to devour anything sweet. They will sneak into your home looking for food and will quickly get into anything with sugar whether it’s syrup or those just-baked sweets.

Cleanliness is key to eradicating Ghost ants. Store foods in air-tight containers. Remove any plants that can attract honeydew-producing insects. When possible, reduce moisture sources by sealing anything that can leak or produce condensation.

DA Exterminating’s pest management professionals have the education, equipment and skills necessary to effectively address a ghost ant problem. Finding and treating the ant colony can be challenging, especially if the main colony is hidden somewhere outside in the lawn. So if you suspect Ghost ants in your home, call DA Exterminating at 800-650-PEST