White Footed Ant
The white-footed ant (WFA) has been making news in Florida over the last few years as a pest ant of major importance. Pest control companies, the media, and homeowners continually consult universities and government agencies for information on how to control this nuisance ant.
First collected at a Homestead, Fla., nursery in 1986, they havespread rapidly and are now found throughout much of Florida. Infested potted plants used in new landscape explain theirpresence in new neighborhoods.
The WFA does not bite or sting, nor has it been reported to cause any structural damage.Scientists estimate colony populations vary from 8,000 to 3 million individual ants. Homeownersconsider them a nuisance pest because they’re frequently seen foraging in kitchens, bathrooms, and the exterior of buildings.
Although WFAs are strongly attracted to sweet foods, they will also feed on dead insects and other protein. This explains why they are frequently seen along branched, trunks of trees and shrubs that have nectars and/or sap-sucking insects that produce honeydew.
Because of their colony size, WFAs are extremely difficult to control. Baits have proven effective for controlling many species of ants, but have shown limited success as a sole means of control for WFA. Repetitive applications of a borate-based bait combined with a liquid residual insecticide treatment provide the most success.
WFA trails meandering up the sides of houses can often be seen entering soffit vents that lead into attics. Because attics usually do not have food sources for ants, infestations can be treated by placing liquid baits along trails on the exterior of the house. This will cause ants nesting in the attic to emerge to feed on the baits.
Trimming trees and shrubs surrounding the structure to stop ants from “bridging” (trailing from the vegetation onto the structure) is also key. The best policy is not to have any vegetation touching exterior walls. Large trees infested with WFA that overhang a roof should be trimmed back to stop “leaf nests” from falling onto roofs, which can cause re-infestation of the building.
Placing liquid baits at the base of these trees or along branches can also be helpful. Treat ant trails coming from neighboring properties by adjoining vegetation, fences or across lawns. In most cases it is advisable to hire a professional pest control company to treat WFA infestations.
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