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How to Kill Bull Ants in Florida

Bull, or carpenter ants, are among the largest ants found in Florida ranging from 1/4- to 1/2-inch long. Bull ants are fond of sweet honeydew secreted by aphids and will actually care for, groom, raise and nurture aphids within their colony to get their honeydew. They are considered wood-destroying pests because of their ability to damage wood. Bull ants like to hollow out wood softened by moisture to build their nests like in tree trunks, or dead tree limbs. They can often find their way inside homes in search for food and water, and can cause major damage when they nest inside indoor wood structures. If you're having a problem with bull ants you should take immediate action to get rid of them.

Things You'll Need

Carpenter ant bait
Caulk
Mint
Soap
Water
Aloe Vera

Instructions

- 1
  Find the nest. The only way to completely eliminate the ants is to destroy the nest. If they are inside your home, look for ant trails along carpet edges, door frames and behind appliances, and follow the trail to the nest.
- 2
  Set carpenter ant bait traps beside the nest or, ant trail if you can't find the nest. The worker ants will carry the ant bait back to the nest where they will share it with the other ants.
- 3
  Check often to see if you need to replenish the bait. If you are dealing with a large colony it may require a lot of bait. How much bait depends on how large the colony is.
- 4
  Destroy bull ant nests outside your home. Look for ant trails to find the nest. If you can't find any trails set a food source where you have seen ant activity and wait for them to take the bait. Once they feed they will usually go back to their nest. Set carpenter ant bait traps beside the nest or, trail if you can't find the nest. The ants will carry it back to the nest and eventually die. You may need to replenish the bait until all of the ants are dead.
- 5
  Prevent bull ants from coming inside your home by eliminating ant bridges caused by trees or shrubs that may touch your home. Caulk exterior openings, cracks and crevices to ensure the ants do not get inside. Plant mint around the entrances of your home. They do not like the pungent smell and will stay away.

Insects & Science