ANTS TYPICALLY FOUND IN ARIZONA

Despite their small size, ants are mighty annoying. With over 12,000 species of ants worldwide, quite a few varieties are roaming the Arizona landscape. Ants common to Arizona are:

• Argentine Ants
• Black Ants
• Carpenter Ants
• Crazy Ants
• Fire Ants
• Forelius Ants
• Leafcutter Ants
• Odorous House Ants
• Pavement Ants
• Pharaoh Ants
• Rover Ants

Ant activity is very structured, compared to other pests. Ants live in colonies that build nests, typically located underground, in decayed wood, or inside homes. Ants have a unique social structure, including workers, soldiers, winged reproductives, and a queen.

Each of these castes of the colony has a specific job to do. For instance, workers spend their days building the nest for expansion, scavenging for food, and tending to the queen. The queen ant’s role is to reproduce, and she will lay hundreds and even thousands of eggs at a time. Soldier ants protect the colony and assist workers, whereas winged reproductives mate and fly to other locations to build another colony.

Winged reproductives are often the pesky ants you’ll find floating in your pool. Soldier and worker ants are the ones you’ll find marching across tabletops and windowsills in search of food.

ARE ANTS THREATENING?

Though ants are not deadly, some species of ants can bite or sting. Carpenter Ants and Crazy Ants, for example, may bite, whereas Pavement Ants and Fire Ants can sting. Ants like the Odorous House Ants do not bite or sting, but rather often invade homes in search of potential nesting spots and food sources.

Despite not being life-threatening, an infestation can be incredibly annoying and off-putting. Since ants tend to congregate by sources of food, it’s likely that you will find them in your kitchen. Not only are they bothersome, but they’re also rather unappetizing and unsanitary when prepping for a meal.

TREATMENT FOR AN INFESTATION

Just because ant infestations are common does not mean all treatment companies are made the same. At Insectek, we only use EPA-certified or organic products to treat your home. This means that you, your loved ones, and your pets will not be breathing in harmful chemicals. We’ll never overcharge you for treatments you don’t need and will solve your infestation problem at its source.

For year-round treatment, enroll in our Insectek 365 Pest Prevention Program. You can choose whether a pest control specialist returns to your home on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis, to assure your home remains free of pests such as ants, spiders, termites, rodents, and more.

In between visits, you can safeguard your home or business by:

• Sealing cracks and crevices around doorways, windowsills, and air-conditioning units
• Trimming plants and vegetation that grow near your home and not allowing trees to overhang the roof line
• Cleaning food and wood debris from around the exterior of your home
• Sanitizing countertops and cabinets for crumbs and food residue.

Call in the Experts