THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANT CONTROL SOLUTION FOR PHOENIX HOMES

Ants may not seem like a huge threat to your Phoenix home, but they can be more trouble than you'd think. So, what's the most effective ant control in Phoenix?

From the characteristics of common ants to the most effective form of ant pest control, here's what Phoenix homeowners should know about getting rid of ants – and how pest control in Phoenix can help.

The Characteristics Of Common Ants

A lot of ants may look the same at first glance, but there are actually several different types of ants that may invade your Phoenix home. Here are some of the characteristics of common ants that might infest your home, and how you can identify them.

Odorous House Ants

These ants have a sweet tooth, and when they're crushed, they tend to leave behind an unpleasant odor that smells like rotten coconuts. Odorous house ants are also the most common ant to invade Phoenix homes – more than any other ant you'll find on this list.

You may still find them outdoors on your Phoenix property, but it's much more likely to spot them in your home than your yard.

Harvester Ants

Harvester ants get their name from the way they "harvest" their food. Harvester ants use seeds as their primary food source, but they can still invade your property. Since they can leave bare spots on your lawn when they build nests, having harvester ants can be destructive.

They also aren't afraid to sting or bite if you get too close, which is another reason you don't want to deal with harvester ants.

Argentine Ants

Almost as common as odorous house ants, Argentine ants are another species that don't mind making your home into theirs. In fact, you may even mistake them for odorous house ants since they also give off a musty odor when you crush them.

One way to differentiate Argentine ants from other types of ants is their trails. When they hunt for food, Argentine ants will create long, single-file lines that may stretch across your walls or floors. Argentine ants are small but have dark coloring on most of their bodies.

Pavement Ants

Just because pavement ants have a preference for building colonies into sidewalk slabs doesn't mean they won't cause you trouble. As their name suggests, pavement ants prefer to create colonies inside cracks or crevices of the pavement.

While they may live outside, pavement ants tend to build colonies near homes or buildings with food and water.

Carpenter Ants

Despite their name, carpenter ants won't be doing a lot of renovations on your home – at least not ones you'll like. Carpenter ants will chew through wood to create their nests, not unlike termites.

With that said, carpenter ants are not nearly as destructive as termites are. They can still create property damage if you don't treat the infestation, but it won't happen immediately.

Fire Ants

Fire ants may not come indoors very often, but this aggressive species likes to build large, mound-like nests on properties and aren't afraid to cause painful stings. You may not realize they're on your property, but as soon as you stumble upon a mound and end up with a few painful stings, you'll know. 

Since they're an aggressive species of ant that won't go away without proper treatment, fire ant control services are crucial. 

Crazy Ants

These ants get their wild name from their erratic movements. Crazy ants move quickly, so it doesn't take them much time to infest your home. Besides their unusual movements, crazy ants also have reddish-brown coloring with dark backs.

They don't grow very big, but crazy ants like hanging around electronic devices – like your phone, laptop, or desktop. Any device that creates an electric current may attract crazy ants.

All The Issues An Ant Infestation Can Create In A House

Not only are most ant species difficult to control because they build colonies that grow into the thousands, but some types can even spread bacteria to you if they get inside your home. Most ants are also capable of biting or stinging, but the risk can vary from ant to ant. You're more at risk for stings and bites from species like harvester ants and fire ants, but it's less likely for odorous house ants or Argentine ants to try and attack.

Other ants, like carpenter ants, can even cause structural damage to your home if the infestation goes untreated for long enough. Fire ants and harvester ants won't cause structural damage, but they can be damaging to your lawn. Harvester will create bald spots in healthy lawns and fire ant mounds can be unsightly.

Besides the bacteria or property damage concerns, most homeowners can agree that ants are a huge nuisance. Once they smell food, they won't leave you alone. You may find them crawling in the kitchen when you prepare food, hovering around your leftovers, or even trying to climb onto dirty dishes in the sink.

Ant infestations run the risk of food contamination too. Even if these pests can't spread disease to you directly, nobody wants a side of ants with their dinner!

Can you get rid of these pests with DIY home pest control for ants? OTC ant sprays, baits, and traps tend to be ineffective for dealing with ants. Ants, regardless of type, tend to be extremely hard to get rid of. Many colonies, like those of Argentine ants, can grow their numbers into the thousands. Ant sprays or baits may eliminate some of the infestation, but it's unlikely to get rid of them all.

Not to mention, DIY ant control techniques won't stop new ants from coming in. Ants can crawl through the tiniest openings, and as long as they can get inside, the infestation will just continue to grow.

Even if you're careful about leaving out leftovers or cleaning up messes, ants have an attuned sense of smell to help them find food almost anywhere they are.

One of the benefits of using professional ant control is that you'll be getting effective ant control treatments. Whether you're dealing with ant species that may contaminate food or damaging carpenter ants, you'll want to get these pests out of your home as soon as possible.

Six Straightforward And Effective Ant Prevention Tips

While some homes may have more attractions than others, here's what you can do to reduce potential ant attractions and prevent these pests from hanging around your property:

1. Keep food items sealed: Leaving out food, including crumbs or dirty dishes, can draw ants in – especially if it's sugary items or sweets. Make sure you're keeping a tight lid on leftovers, washing dirty dishes, and cleaning up any spills.
2. Don't let your trash cans overflow: If they can't get your leftovers, ants may head for the next best thing: your trash can. Make sure you're regularly emptying indoor and outdoor cans, but also sealing trash cans too.
3. Seal off cracks and crevices that lead into your home: Ants love to use tiny crevices and cracks in your foundation to get inside, but using caulk or another sealant to block off these entry points can stop these pests in their tracks.
4. Clear yard debris: Ants, including fire ants, don't mind using yard debris to get inside your home or build colonies. Make sure you're clearing yard debris from your property regularly and inspecting any debris for ants before you bring it inside your home.
5. Get rid of damaged wood: Since damaged wood, especially water-damaged wood, can attract carpenter ants, you'll want to get rid of or replace any damaged wood on your property.
6. Keep up with regular lawn maintenance: Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance can help you spot ant colonies, like fire ants, early and make it harder for these colonies to hide.

While natural ant control solutions can only do so much, the most effective way to keep ants away is by working with the pros. Once an infestation has taken root inside your home, ants won't be keen on leaving anytime soon.

Working with a pest control company like Overson Pest Control can give you the advantage – and stop ant infestations before they've spiraled out of control.

The Most Effective Ant Control For Phoenix Homes

Given how hard ant infestations can be to get rid of, there's only one effective and safe way to get rid of the problems that these pests cause. That comes from working with Overson Pest Control. With years of experience and time-tested green ant control treatments that will get the job done, we don't cut corners when it comes to effective ant control in Phoenix.

If you're spotting ants around your home or suspect there's a growing colony of them on your property, there's only one safe solution – call us today at Overson Pest Control to learn more about how our home ant control services work or to schedule an inspection.