How to Get Rid of Ghost Ants (Fast and Efficiently)

Ghost ants are tiny warmth seekers that may not bite or damage your space, but could possibly transmit disease pathogens (Bacterial or Fungal). The worst part? Infestations can be quite challenging (and frustrating) to get rid of.

However, though it takes a bit of work, getting rid of ghost ants isn’t impossible. Here’s all the information you need to go about it.

How to Identify Ghost Ants and Their Infestations

Their ability to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly, coupled with their pale coloring, is what earned these tiny, invasive pests, no more than 1.3-1.5 millimeters in length, their name.

Found both indoors and outdoors in moist spots, ghost ants are easily recognizable by their almost translucent bodies and dark thoraxes (hairless and spineless) and heads (which is why they’re also sometimes called black-headed ants). They have 12 antennae segments that grow thicker as you near the tip.

Because of the extreme similarities, ghost ants are often confused with odorous house ants. However, the latter is either fully black or brown. They may also be confused with pharaoh and sugar ants due to their pale coloring, but ghost ants have pale abdomens (usually cream or very light yellow).

Ghost ants are a very common sight in the warm southern spots of Florida and other areas where humid, warm, “tropical” conditions exist.

To summarize, if you see tiny, pale/translucent ants with dark legs and heads, you may very well be dealing with an infestation of ghost ants!

Locating the Nest

Once you’ve determined that have an infestation of ghost ants to deal with, it’s time to look for the nest.

As mentioned, ghost ants love moist spots. Additionally, they nest in the ground.

If you’re looking outdoors, look under firewood piles, rocks, lumber, mulch, and loose tree bark. They may also hide in crevices and cavities in dead trees and branches. Not only are these moist spots but they’re also spots with plenty of rotting organic matter to feed on.

If you’re looking indoors, look in high-moisture areas, such as under leaks, near your sink, the shower stall, your pipes, tubs, behind cabinets, baseboards, and wall voids anything with moisture. The soil in potted plants is also a good bet.

These ants prefer to travel along your wires and under the edges of carpets to reach these moisture sources. Since they travel in trails, it’s quite easy to spot a traveling group and even follow it either way to the nest or the entry point (ants trail both ways).

Another tell-tale sign of ghost ant nests is small piles of sand or dirt that they’ve tracked in, near the corners or the base of your walls.

Eliminating Ghost Ant Infestations

Before you go in all guns blazing and call the exterminators, there’s a high chance that you can get rid of the infestation on your own, with a few simple steps.

Here are some things you can do to get rid of a ghost ant infestation in your house.

Eliminate the Food Source

Like other insects, ghost ants also need sustenance, and hence, are drawn to sources of food and water. This means that any food spills, scraps, uncovered food, spilled water, dirty dishes, and garbage cans are manna to these pesky insects.

Eliminating food sources is one of the most effective and simplest ways to get rid of ghost ants. Clean up all spills, smears, splatters, crumbs, dirty dishes, and food remains as soon as possible so that they don’t attract ghost ants. Additionally, store any leftovers and food supplies in airtight containers or plastic bags that can be sealed shut tightly.

Make sure that your food waste and trash are also placed in sealed bags or covered waste bins. If you can, remove the food waste from your kitchen each night and place it in covered bins outside. (Even if this does attract an outdoor colony of ghost ants, better outside than inside!)

Remember—though ghost ants prefer sweet and starchy food such as cornmeal, sugar, and honey, any other food is also fair game for these pests, including pet food and dead insects. Therefore, eliminating the worker ant’s food source isn’t just limited to the kitchen—it also means keeping your house, vehicles, and yard clean.

Traps and Baits

While your first reaction to a ghost ant infestation will be to reach for a bottle of insecticide and spray the living daylights out of your uninvited guests, just make sure you have the right spray to kill ghost ants. Many people will prefer or use insecticides with gel bait or store-bought ant traps. We have a gel bait we use below.

Gel Baits

Store-bought gel baits and traps are a much more effective way to get rid of ghost ants and are also much safer for the other residents of the house, especially pets, and children. These baits are specifically designed to attract ants with their sweetness, mimicking naturally sweet sources such as honey and sugar.

Place the baits discreetly in and around areas where you either suspect an infestation, such as behind the toilet or under the sink, or have tracked one down. Placing baits at the entry points will also work well.

Even if you see the ants trailing along visible areas, tracking down the nest and placing the bait there is more effective, as this will draw them away from visible spots and let them feed in areas where you won’t have to see them. It’s also safer, as it’s out of the reach of pets and children.

Borax

When ingested, borax is toxic to all ants species, disrupting their digestive systems and causing death eventually. A mixture of equal parts borax and sugar is an effective solution to ghost ant infestations (the borax alone won’t attract the ants).

What’s great is that the borax lets the ants last long enough to carry the particles back to the nest, where other ants feed on it and also die.

Does borax get rid of all the ants the answer is no. There may be other ghost ant colonies and you get one colony but not the other. Some ants will not take the borax bait and ignore it.

Home Remedies Ant Traps and Baits

You can also use home remedies such as diatomaceous earth, chalk, essential oils, and mint to deter the ants. Chalk lines throw the ants off course, while the smell of essential oils and mint repels them.

Ant Powder and dust

You can also use dust, powders, and other insecticides specifically meant for ant control.

Chemical Sprays

Chemical sprays along with bait traps are the best way to get rid of ants. If you need do not like using chemical sprays, it’s best to get your local exterminator to help you out.

You will want to make sure that you’re using a product specifically meant for ant control, and that you follow all safety precautions and instructions mentioned by the manufacturer. Spray around the perimeter of your house and any entry points.

Monitor and Repeat

To ensure that you’ve gotten all of it, monitor the infested areas for any remaining ant activity. If you find that there is still a significant number of ants around, repeat your elimination process until you’ve gotten rid of the last of them.

Pest Control Company

You can also call a pest control company to come in and take care of your ant problem. This will cost you more than if you DIY but at the end of the day, you will get rid of them. You can try the kit we suggest and if that does not work call in the exterminator.

The Bottom Line

Getting rid of a ghost ant infestation can be quite a bit of work, which is why preventing one is a much wiser thing to do. Keep your house and yard clean, seal all possible entry points, fix leaks, and ultimately, take away all reason for them to invade your house. If you kill any ants that you see, make sure that you wipe down the area to eliminate all trails, as these are scented with pheromones that can attract other ants.

Bear these in mind and you’re golden!