You wake up to clean countertops. No more ant trails across your kitchen floor or tiny invaders crawling around your sink. No more wondering if that crumb you missed will turn into a full-blown infestation by morning.
That’s what happens when you get real ant control. Not the temporary fixes that leave colonies intact underground. Not the sprays that scatter ants into new hiding spots throughout your walls.
We eliminate entire colonies at the source. The queen, the workers, the hidden nests tucked behind your baseboards and inside wall voids. When we’re done, you get lasting results that actually stick.
Around The Clock Pest Service has spent over 14 years mastering Florida’s unique ant problems. We’re not some national chain that treats every state the same. We’re local, family-owned, and we understand exactly how Florida’s year-round warmth and humidity create perfect conditions for ant colonies to thrive.
Our team knows the difference between ghost ants and sugar ants. We can spot carpenter ant damage before it becomes expensive structural repairs. And we understand that fire ants in Lumberton yards aren’t just a nuisance—they’re a real safety concern for families and pets.
When you call us, you talk directly to the owner. No call centers, no runaround. Just honest communication and solutions that work.
First, we identify exactly which ant species you’re dealing with. Ghost ants need different treatment than carpenter ants or fire ants. Most DIY approaches fail because they use a one-size-fits-all method that doesn’t match the ant’s biology and behavior.
Next, we locate the actual colonies. Not just the trails you see on your counters, but the hidden nests where queens are laying thousands of eggs. We use targeted baiting systems that worker ants carry directly back to these nests, eliminating the entire colony structure.
Finally, we create a protective barrier around your property that prevents new colonies from establishing. This isn’t about monthly spraying that wears off. It’s about understanding ant behavior and using that knowledge to keep them away from your home permanently.
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Florida hosts over a dozen ant species that commonly invade homes, and each one requires a different approach. Ghost ants form multiple nests that split when threatened. Fire ants build aggressive colonies that attack anything they perceive as a threat. Carpenter ants tunnel through moisture-damaged wood, causing structural damage that gets worse over time.
In Lumberton’s humid climate, these ants stay active year-round. There’s no winter die-off like you’d see up north. Colonies keep growing, keep spreading, and keep finding new ways into your home through tiny cracks you can’t even see.
Our treatment plans account for this reality. We use species-specific baits that match each ant’s dietary preferences. We target the locations where different species actually nest. And we time our treatments to match seasonal behavior patterns that most companies don’t even know exist.
Those tiny ants are likely ghost ants, and they’re coming back because store-bought sprays only kill the workers you can see. Ghost ants live in multiple connected nests throughout your walls, and when you spray the visible ants, it actually causes the colonies to split and form new nests.
The real problem is the queens hidden inside your wall voids, behind cabinets, and even inside electrical outlets. These queens keep producing thousands of new workers every week. Until you eliminate the queens and their nests, you’ll keep seeing new ants no matter how much you spray.
Professional baiting systems work differently. Worker ants carry the bait back to all the hidden nests, including the queens. This eliminates the entire colony network instead of just scattering it around your house.
You’ll typically see a dramatic reduction in ant activity within the first week, but complete elimination takes 2-3 weeks for most species. This timeline accounts for the ant colony’s biology and the time it takes for baits to reach all the hidden nests.
Ghost ants and other multi-nest species take slightly longer because the bait needs to travel through their entire network. Fire ants in outdoor colonies respond faster, usually within 7-10 days. Carpenter ants can take up to three weeks since they have larger, more complex colony structures.
The key difference with professional treatment is that results are permanent. DIY sprays might seem faster because they kill ants immediately, but those ants are replaced within days. Our approach eliminates the source, so you don’t get recurring infestations every few months.
Yes, when applied correctly by licensed professionals. We use targeted baiting systems that place active ingredients only where ants can access them, not where your family and pets spend time. The baits are designed to attract ants specifically, not mammals.
Our treatments focus on precision rather than broad-spectrum spraying. Instead of coating your entire home with pesticides, we place small amounts of bait in strategic locations based on ant behavior patterns. This approach is both more effective and much safer for your household.
We’re also state-certified and follow all Florida Department of Agriculture guidelines for residential pest control. Every product we use is EPA-approved for indoor use, and we provide detailed instructions for any precautions you should take during and after treatment.
“Sugar ant” is actually a nickname that Florida residents use for several different small ant species, including ghost ants, white-footed ants, and odorous house ants. True sugar ants don’t actually live in Florida—they’re a northern species.
Ghost ants are the most common of these “sugar ants” in Florida homes. They’re tiny (about 1.5mm), with dark heads and almost transparent bodies. They prefer sweets and moisture, which is why you see them around kitchen sinks and countertops. They also have a distinctive coconut-like smell when crushed.
The identification matters because different species need different treatments. Ghost ants form multiple nests and split when threatened. White-footed ants create massive supercolonies. Odorous house ants emit a rotten smell when disturbed. Using the wrong bait or treatment approach can make your ant problem worse instead of better.
Fire ant prevention in Florida requires understanding their nesting preferences and treating your property before you see the telltale mounds. Fire ants prefer open, sunny areas with well-drained soil, which describes most Lumberton lawns perfectly.
The most effective approach is professional baiting during their active foraging periods, typically spring and fall. Fire ants carry bait back to their colonies, including satellite nests you can’t see. This eliminates entire colony networks before they establish the aggressive mounds that are dangerous to disturb.
Maintaining your lawn also helps. Fire ants prefer sparse grass where they can easily build mounds. Thick, healthy turf makes it harder for them to establish colonies. But even with perfect lawn care, professional treatment is usually necessary in Florida because fire ants are so well-adapted to our climate and soil conditions.
Yes, carpenter ants can cause significant structural damage, especially in Florida’s humid climate where moisture problems are common. Unlike termites that eat wood, carpenter ants excavate galleries through moisture-damaged wood to create their nests. Over time, this weakens structural elements like floor joists, wall studs, and roof supports.
Florida carpenter ants are particularly problematic because our year-round humidity creates perfect conditions for the moisture damage they prefer. They often start in areas like bathroom subfloors, kitchen cabinets near plumbing, or attic spaces with roof leaks. By the time you notice sawdust-like debris or hear rustling sounds in your walls, the damage may already be extensive.
Early professional treatment is crucial because carpenter ant colonies can contain thousands of workers spread across multiple nesting sites. DIY treatments rarely reach all the satellite colonies, so the damage continues even when you think the problem is solved. Professional baiting eliminates entire colony networks and prevents ongoing structural damage.
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