Ghost Ants

What ghost ants look like

Ghost ants look like they are half invisible. The head and thorax are dark brown to black, while the legs, the waist and the whole abdomen are pale, milky and translucent, so on a light countertop the back half of the ant seems to fade out. They are very small, about 1.5 mm, which adds to the effect. Some people call them black-headed ants for the same reason. Crushed workers give off a coconut-like smell similar to odorous house ants, but the two are easy to separate on colour alone, since odorous house ants are uniformly dark and roughly twice the size. Workers are all one size, the waist has a single node that is hidden from above, and the body carries no spines.

Signs you have ghost ants

• Ants that seem to disappear. Pale legs and abdomens make them very hard to see on light surfaces, so people often notice only the dark heads moving.
• Activity around water. Trails at sinks, dishwashers, shower bases, drains and the drip tray under the fridge.
• Strong sweet preference. Numbers building on syrup, honey, juice, fruit and sugary residue.
• Many small trails at once. Several short trails in different rooms, because colonies have multiple queens and multiple nest sites.
• Year-round indoor activity. Consistent activity through the winter, since they live entirely inside heated buildings here.

Why ghost ants come indoors

Ghost ants are tropical. They cannot survive an Ontario winter outdoors, so in Canada they are an indoor ant found in heated homes, apartment buildings, condos, greenhouses, food premises and hospitals. They arrive with potted plants, produce, deliveries and belongings moved from warmer regions. Inside, they nest in wall voids, behind baseboards, in potted plant soil, under floor coverings, in cabinet voids and in any small warm space that holds moisture. They need water regularly, which is why the trails so often run to a sink or a drain. Colonies contain many queens and split readily, so pressure from a repellent spray causes them to bud into new nests instead of dying out.

How to keep ghost ants out

• Check the soil of new houseplants and any items arriving from warmer regions before bringing them inside.
• Fix dripping taps, leaking traps and condensation problems, since a steady water source holds them in place.
• Wipe up sweet spills immediately and store syrup, honey and fruit in sealed containers.
• Seal gaps at baseboards, cabinet backs, plumbing penetrations and between units in apartments and condos.
• Avoid spraying trails with household insecticide, because that splits the colony and makes it harder to control.

How GO! Pest Control treats ghost ants

• Inspection. We confirm the species, follow trails to moisture points and likely nest voids, and check potted plants and shared walls in multi-unit buildings.
• Treatment. We rely on sweet liquid and gel baits placed on active trails so the material reaches the queens, supported by targeted void work. We keep repellent products away from the trails.
• Follow-up. We return to check bait take and to find any nests that have budded off, since multi-queen colonies rarely clear in one pass.
• Advice. We explain the moisture and sweet-food sources that keep them going, and what to watch for in neighbouring units.

We are licensed, insured and bonded, and we work in homes, apartments, condos and businesses across the Toronto GTA, Ottawa and Hamilton.

Common questions about ghost ants