There’s lots to celebrate about living in the Valley – not the least of which is its warm, beautiful landscapes. However, with that warmth comes pests, especially ants. The most common in the Phoenix area include fire ants, pavement ants, and carpenter ants. They may all be ants, but they differ in their behaviors, risks, and treatments.
Here’s how you can identify which type you have on your property and how best to get rid of them with the help of a pest control company in Phoenix, AZ.
Fire Ants
Known for their aggressive behavior, painful stings, and well-organized colonies, fire ants build dome shaped mounds in lawns, fields, or open soil. Here’s how you’ll know you’re dealing with fire ants:
- They have reddish or coppery-colored bodies with darker abdomens.
- They live in large colonies with hundreds of thousands of ants.
- They deliver painful stings that may cause itching, swelling, and allergic reactions for some people.
There are many health risks from the stings of fire ants, especially for children, pets, or allergy sufferers. Not only do they disrupt lawns, gardens, and outdoor living spaces with their noticeable mounds, they require professional treatment to eradicate due to their stinging behavior and colony size.
Pavement Ants
While smaller and less threatening, pavement ants can still be very frustrating to deal with. They tend to make their homes under concrete, sidewalks, driveway cracks, and foundations, but you’ll also spot them in your kitchens, floors or counters.
- Small and dark brown or black in color.
- Nest under pavement, stones, or slabs; look for small soil or sand mounds along cracks.
- Forage for food such as sweets, greasy or sugary substances.
Because they can easily contaminate food, it’s necessary to keep a clean home and kitchen, while sealing entry points around the home. Control of pavement ants is usually easier than other types; however, the presence of multiple queens can complicate control.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants may not sting like fire ants, but they can cause serious structural problems behind the scenes. Like termites, you may not know of the damage they have caused until it’s too late. Rather than eat wood like termites, carpenter ants excavate it. This allows them to create galleries and nest within moist, decaying wood.
- Large and black, although some species have red or light coloration.
- Prefer moist or damp wood such as trees, rotted lumber, damp siding, and soffits.
- Can produce winged ants called swarmers as the nest matures.
Hidden nests in walls or roof structures can weaken boards and framing, causing expensive structural damage over time that can go unnoticed. Once colonies are established, it becomes necessary to remove the nesting wood and treat satellite nests. A professional pest control company in Phoenix should be called in.
Prevention and Control Tips
From sealing entry points to removing food sources, here’s what you can do to keep common ant species in the Valley out of your home:
- Seal entry points around windows, doors, foundations.
- Remove mounds: Treat or remove fire ant mounds early, bait around pavement cracks, and clean thoroughly for pavement ants.
- Eliminate moisture: Fix leaks promptly, ensure proper ventilation, and remove rotting wood.
- Remove food sources: Clean up crumbs, seal sweet or greasy food, and store pet food properly.
- Call a professional, especially for fire ant stings, large colonies, or structural damage caused by carpenter ants.
Ant invasions in the Valley aren’t just annoying—they can significantly impact your home, health, and peace of mind. That’s why it’s so important to understand the differences between fire, pavement, and carpenter ants while remaining alert for their signs.
Phoenix Ant Specialist in Phoenix, AZ
If you’re riddled with ants in your yard or in your kitchen, contact us for a free quote and inspection at 602-338-9223 from your trusted Valley ant exterminators.