4 Common Ant Infestations in NJ and FL Homes – How to Spot Each

Ants are difficult to deal with. When they invade your home, they often arrive in large numbers, searching for food or shelter. Getting rid of them is difficult, and many people are forced to battle them for months on end as they try and keep them out of their home.

There are thousands of different ant species, so it can be hard to know what type of ant infestation you are dealing with. In New Jersey and Florida, though, there are a few species that pop up relatively often.

The 4 ant infestations we treat most across New Jersey and Florida

Not all ant problems are the same. The species below cause the most call-outs across our New Jersey and Florida service areas - here's how to recognise each one and why it matters.

1. Carpenter ants: New Jersey's most damaging ant. They don't eat wood the way termites do, but they excavate smooth galleries inside damp or previously damaged framing to build nests, weakening the wood over time. Tell-tale signs are piles of sawdust-like shavings ("frass") and faint rustling in walls. Activity peaks in NJ from spring through late summer.
2. Odorous house ants: The small brown ants most homeowners in both states find trailing across kitchen counters. Crush one and it gives off a coconut-like smell. They nest almost anywhere - wall voids, under floors, near moisture - and are drawn indoors by sweet foods.
3. Pavement ants: Common in NJ and FL, these nest under driveways, patios, slabs and foundations, pushing up small mounds of displaced soil between cracks. They forage indoors for grease and crumbs, especially in spring.
4. Fire ants (a Florida problem, not a New Jersey one): Red imported fire ants are established across Florida, where they build dome-shaped mounds and deliver a burning, blister-raising sting. Their US range currently reaches only as far north as Maryland. NJ does have the milder European fire ant, but it’s far less aggressive.

New Jersey ant season at a glance

• Early spring: overwintering colonies wake up; carpenter ants and pavement ants begin foraging as temperatures rise.
• Late spring–summer: peak activity and swarming; winged carpenter ants may appear indoors, a sign of an established nest.
• Autumn: ants move toward warm structures ahead of winter — a good time for a preventive perimeter treatment.

Are there fire ants in New Jersey?

Not the aggressive red imported fire ant - it isn't established in New Jersey and is currently found no further north than Maryland. New Jersey does have the European fire ant (Myrmica rubra), which can sting but is far less of a threat than the fire ants found in the South. The ants NJ homeowners deal with most are carpenter ants, pavement ants and odorous house ants.

Call the Professionals for Ant Control

If you're dealing with an ant infestation in New Jersey or Florida, acting quickly can prevent a small problem from turning into a much larger one. Whether you're facing carpenter ants damaging wood, fire ants in your yard, or persistent kitchen ants that keep coming back, professional treatment targets the source of the colony rather than just the ants you can see.

Excel Pest Services provides expert ant control for homes and businesses across New Jersey and Florida. Our experienced technicians identify the species, eliminate active infestations, and help prevent future problems with tailored treatment plans.

Don't let ants take over your property. Contact Excel Pest Services today to schedule your inspection and get lasting protection from every type of ant common in NJ and FL.