Ant Extermination in Phoenix, Arizona

Are Ants Harmful?

Each of these species occupies a different niche in the Arizona biosphere, but one thing they do have in common is they all can be an inconvenience to homeowners. Some ants are just a nuisance, while others can cause major damage. 

• Pavement Ants won’t eat through the wood of your home, but they will eat the food they find there, especially things like fruits, sweets, cheese, and greasy foods. They have to travel through a lot of grit and grime to make it into your home; therefore, like odorous house ants, there’s a chance they’ll contaminate what food they leave behind.
• Fire Ants get their name from the fact that they are red and they sting, unlike most ants that just bite. They are known for their large mounds. If disturbed, they will sting multiple times. They usually wander in homes through cracks and crevices.
• Harvester Ants spend their time gathering seeds for food, hence their name. Like fire ants, they are known to sting. Their stings can kill small animals who disturb their mounds. Harvester ants are usually found on bare soil areas. 
• Odorous House Ants aren’t nearly as dangerous as fire ants, but they do stink. Literally, they give off a rotten odor when crushed. In addition to water, sweets and meat attract these ants, which can contaminate the foods they touch. 

What’s Attracting Ants Into Your Home?

There are three main things that might attract ants into your home: food, water, and houseplants.

• Food: Ants are fond of most human food and especially love sweets. If you happen to leave a little something out on your countertops or drop crumbs on the floor, it could attract an ant or two … at least at first. Those initial scouts will leave behind a scent trail for other ants to follow, and what started off as a few will quickly turn into a near-constant stream of the little buggers coming to transport treasure back to the nest.
• Water: Ants need it to survive. Some have the responsibility of collecting water and bringing it back to the colony. Just as they would when they discover a food source, they’ll leave a scent trail for other ants to follow. 
• Houseplants: Sometimes ants will explore your potted plants. They could be attracted to the scent of flowers or they might be drawn to the moisture from the plants. While most are not interested in eating the plants, ants can still damage them.

Signs of an Ant Infestation

Ants are hardworking and active creatures, so you’ll likely catch them in the act if you have an infestation.

The most obvious sign of an ant infestation is spotting a trail of ants in your home. You might also find active or dead ants in pantry foods like cereal and cookies or swarming crumbs and left-out foods. 

They’ll also wander into homes with sweet-scented plants and still water sources like leaky faucets and plant saucers.

If ants have made themselves a nest in your home, you might find piles of dirt or wood shavings near cracks in walls or flooring. Looking for signs of food scavenging and home-building activity can help you prevent further infestation.

Ways to Fight the Scourge of Ants

• Eliminate moisture from things like leaky faucets and pipes, as well as saucers under houseplants. 
• Secure trash.
• Cut down tree limbs hovering over your home. (Such limbs can serve as transportation routes for ants.) 
• Seal off any entry points. You can refer to our scorpion home seal guide for ways to seal off your home from all manner of pests, including ants.
• Don’t leave food exposed.
• Schedule integrated pest management with a professional exterminator.