White Ants in Florida: Identification & Risks

In South Florida, pests don’t take vacations. Thanks to the heat, humidity, and lush landscaping, sneaky invaders like ghost ants thrive all year long.

These tiny, pale ants are masters of stealth; quietly spreading through your walls, cabinets, and appliances before you even notice they’re there.

If you’ve spotted mystery ants (or been told they might be termites), this quick guide is here to clear things up. We’ll show you how to tell what you’re dealing with, whether they’re a threat, and what to do next.

Learning the Basics

In Florida, the term “white ants” gets thrown around a lot, but it’s not a scientific term. In fact, it’s one of the most frequent sources of confusion for homeowners we meet. When someone says they’ve spotted white ants, they’re usually referring to one of two very different pests: ghost ants or termites.

Ghost Ants: The Real Culprit Behind Most “White Ant” Sightings

Ghost ants are tiny, measuring about 1/16 of an inch long, their pale, almost translucent abdomens and legs blend seamlessly with light-colored surfaces, making them nearly invisible to the untrained eye. Only their slightly darker heads give them away. This unique coloring is what earned them the nickname “white sugar ants” in some circles, though they’re not a species of sugar ant at all.

Ghost ants are some of the most frequently encountered household invaders in South Florida. They forage in erratic patterns, show up overnight in kitchens and bathrooms, and build nests in hard-to-reach places like wall voids, behind baseboards, or under potted plants. And once they’ve settled in, they’re not easy to evict.

Helpful Resource -> How To Get Rid Of Ghost Ants In Florida

Termites: The Hidden Threat Often Mistaken for White Ants

Photo Source -> College of Agricultural Sciences Colorado State University

On the other hand, termites are a far more serious problem, especially if you're a homeowner. Like ghost ants, termites can appear light-colored or creamy white, especially the worker caste, which is why they’re often mistaken for “white ants.” But make no mistake: termites don’t just snack on crumbs or sugar, they feed on the very structure of your home.

Unlike ants, termites have thick waists, straight antennae, and equal-length wings. They move differently, live differently, and pose an entirely different threat. Identifying whether you're dealing with ghost ants or termites isn’t just a matter of curiosity, it determines whether you're facing a nuisance or a potential $10,000 repair bill.

More Details on How to Get Rid of Termites in Florida

So when we hear someone mention “white ants,” we always respond with the same advice: Let’s take a closer look.

Ghost Ants vs. Termites – Quick Comparison

What Do Florida White Ants Eat?

Ghost ants have a serious sweet tooth but that’s not all they’re after. These tiny invaders are drawn to:

• Sugar – Think spilled juice, sticky syrup bottles, soda drips.

• Grease and protein – Dirty stovetops, food scraps, even pet food bowls.

• Honeydew – A sugary secretion from aphids and mealybugs found on houseplants.

Leftover crumbs, sticky counters, and even a leaky faucet can become a ghost ant buffet. If your home has excess moisture and a few food particles lying around, you’ve essentially rolled out the red carpet for them.

Where Do Florida White Ants Live?

Ghost ants are adaptable nesters, one of the many reasons they’re hard to eliminate without professional help.

Indoors, they tuck themselves into:

• Wall voids

• Behind baseboards

• Inside cabinetry

• Under kitchen and laundry appliances

Outdoors, nests are often hidden in:

• Mulch and yard debris

• Potted plants

• Under bark or leaves

• Damp soil around the home’s foundation

They prefer high-moisture areas both inside and out, which is why leaks, humidity, and poor yard drainage create perfect nesting conditions.

Are They Helpful or Harmful?

Ghost ants might not have the menacing look of a fire ant or the destructive bite of a termite, but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. In fact, the danger with ghost ants lies not in their sting (because they don’t have one) but in their ability to silently invade your living spaces, especially where cleanliness and health matter most.

As they travel, they can transfer bacteria from one unsanitary surface to another, contaminating the areas where you cook, clean, and prepare food. It’s the same reason we take cockroach infestations seriously, even if the pest isn’t aggressive, its habits create health risks.

And no, ghost ants aren’t toxic to cats or dogs. Your pet isn’t in danger from chomping down on a stray ant. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore the issue. Ghost ants can still:

• Invade food bowls and spread bacteria

• Nest in moist pet bedding areas or crate corners

• Crawl over open wounds or water dishes, introducing pathogens

While not life-threatening, it’s still unhygienic and unsettling for any pet owner.

When They Become a Problem

Spotting tiny pale ants in your kitchen or bathroom can trigger a flood of questions and if you're like most Florida homeowners, your first thought is, "Are these termites?" Whether you're dealing with ghost ants or something more serious, taking the right steps quickly can save you time, stress, and costly damage.

Here’s exactly what I recommend, based on decades of real-world pest control experience here in South Florida:

Step 1: Identify Correctly

The biggest mistake we see? People guessing.

Ghost ants and termites can look deceptively similar at a glance, but their treatment methods couldn’t be more different. Guess wrong, and you could:

• Trigger colony budding (in ghost ants)

• Miss active structural damage (from termites)

• Waste time and money on ineffective solutions

Step 2: Take Immediate Action

You can take some smart, low-risk steps to make your home less attractive to pests:

• Clean up food spills immediately especially anything sugary or greasy.

• Fix any leaks under sinks or around appliances.

• Seal food in airtight containers, and avoid leaving pet food out overnight.

• Avoid DIY sprays unless you’re 100% sure what you're dealing with.

Why avoid sprays? Because with ghost ants, spraying the wrong product (or spraying at the wrong time) can cause their colony to split into multiple nests. This is called budding, and it’s why many homeowners find their ghost ant problem gets worse after they try to treat it themselves.

Step 3: Contact a Professional

The truth is, ghost ants don’t really respond well to cookie-cutter solutions. A licensed ant control specialist can:

• Correctly identify whether you're dealing with ants or termites

• Find hidden nests in walls, under appliances, and around your property

• Apply targeted, non-repellent baits designed to eliminate the colony—not just the ants you see

• Use pet-safe, eco-friendly treatments that protect your home without putting your family at risk

We’ve built our reputation on safe, strategic pest control that works. Not just for today, but for the long haul.

Coexist or Control?

When faced with an ant invasion, especially one as subtle and persistent as ghost ants, you might ask yourself: Do I really need to treat this? Can I just live with them?

It’s a fair question, especially if you’re wary of pesticides or want to avoid unnecessary disruption in your home. But here’s the truth: ghost ants don’t play by the rules. And in a warm, moisture-rich environment like Florida, choosing to “coexist” can quickly turn into a frustrating, never-ending battle.

Control doesn’t mean drenching your home in chemicals. We offer strategic, eco-conscious ant management that:

• Targets the root of the problem (the nest, not just the trail),

• Uses non-repellent baits that ants carry back to the colony,

• Applies treatments that are safe for kids and pets,

• And most importantly, prevents recurrence.

We tailor each plan based on your home’s layout, moisture levels, surrounding vegetation, and pest history. Because ghost ants may be tiny, but dealing with them takes a big-picture strategy.

Do not hesitate to give us a call.