Arizona Ants Pest Control: Your Go To Guide
Ants thrive in the AZ desert which means Arizona ants pest control isn’t easy. It can seem impossible to get the ants away from your family and off your property.
If you have an ant infestation or need some questions answered, consider this your go-to guide for all things that answer, “How do I get rid of ants in Arizona?”
Let’s get into it.
Ant or Termite? Everyone’s favorite question
Your ants might not even be ants. Termites are often mistaken for ants. Obviously, we would all prefer ants but here are 4 ways to tell Termites from Ants.
Mud Tubes
If you see mud tubes on your property, sorry … but you most likely have termites.
What are mud tubes? They look like vines made of dirt.
If you don’t find any mud tubes, then check if the bugs have wings.
Wings
Not all termites or ants have wings. But if yours DO then check the wing size.
Termite wings are uniform across the colony. All the bugs should have wings about the same size and shape.
Flying ant wings are far more random. do not look alike in size and shape. But not all termites have wings.
Antennae
Ants have antennae that bend like your arm at the elbow.
Termite’s antennae are either straight or slightly curved.
Ant vs. Termite Bodies
Ants are thinner in the middle section than that of their destructive cousin, the illusive termite.
Pro-Tip
If you are unsure which insect you’re dealing with, it’s best to have a professional come and inspect the situation.
How to Get Rid of In Ants Arizona
Ants are your opponent. Arizona ants pest control is a constant battle for two reasons.
The first reason is just one word: Food
Most ant infestations start with ants finding a food source and escalate quickly from there.
Prevention: Cut off the Ants’ Food Source
The easiest way to prevent ants from moving into your home or yard is by not giving them a reason to be there.
Pro-Tip
Make your property as inhospitable to an ant colony as possible.
Keep Ants Out of Your Yard
Step one is simple. Prevent ants by cleaning up any food that might attract ants.
The most common culprits are:
- Dog food and water bowls
- Citrus or other fruit which has dropped to the ground
- Leaking irrigation systems and other water sources
- To combat this, keep any outdoor dog food off the ground.
Citrus and other fruit on the ground is particularly bad. You may as well roll out the red carpet for a hungry colony. Pick up those lemons and oranges.
Fix any leaky irrigation pipes to prevent sitting water (and save on your water bill).
Keep Ants Out of Your House
You can try to keep ants out of your house by sealing up every crack and crevice around your home.
But you should know ants are relentless and if they want to find a way into your home, they will.
Ants are also prolific colonizers. It’s normal to have ants reestablish themselves around a home or building even after you think you’ve gotten rid of them.
But if you want specifics on how to keep ants out of your house:
- Seal up ALL openings, cracks, and crevices
- Make sure weather stripping on doors and windows is not worn or missing. Seal other openings into the home using caulking.
- Screen vents: Install fine-mesh screening across attic vents or baffling or vents that lead to other areas of the home.
Ant Bait and Monitor
The second reason ants are difficult to keep off your property is ants are always on the move, constantly starting new colonies. You might get rid of one colony and another will move right in after.
Sexton Pest Control uses a specialized chemical designed to kill the entire colony including the queen of any ant species.
Why slow-acting? Ants groom each other and transfer the product to each member of the colony. This is how it is so successful.
It’s important to have bait installed by a professional. An exterminator will know the best places to install bait and how to install them effectively.
These chemicals should be done 2 to 4 times a year to keep up your home’s protection.
Call an Ant Exterminator
DIY ant treatment can only do so much. If you’re having trouble getting rid of these pesky guys, it might be time to seek professional help.
Types of Ants in Arizona
There are a lot of ant species in Arizona: carpenter ants, fire ants, crazy ants, pavement ants, Forelius ants. They’re all attracted to various types of food based on ant species and age of the colony.
First, let’s talk about the ants you really don’t want to see.
Destructive and Aggressive Arizona Ants
Arizona Fire Ants
Fire ants are an invasive pest in Arizona and have been a major concern for Arizona residents for decades. Based on their reputation, you’d think Fire Ants were all over Arizona.
But the reality is, they’re not as common as you’d think. Nevertheless, they’re nasty if you have the misfortune of coming across a colony.
They swarm over and sting pretty much anything that crosses their foraging path.
Once a Fire Ant is provoked, it releases a signal to the rest of the ants in the area through pheromones. What does that signal say?
Repeatedly attack the closest moving thing.
Fire Ants will eat almost anything: from meat to leaves.
They can also nest in most any landscape. Fire Ants have (and continue to) displace many native Arizona insects, and the animals that feed on them.
Fire Ants are also known as Red Ants because their bodies are red with a darker midsection (or abdomen).
Fire Ants build their colonies deep in the ground which means they’re tough to get rid of with store bought products.
Sexton Pest Control uses insecticidal baits that treat ants at the source of the problem. The time released baits take out the ants that come across them. But the time release allows our baits to get to all the other ants that are fed the product, from the larvae to the queen.
Other Arizona Ants
Forelius Ants
Forelius ants are a bright orange and found in hot, dry places. However, they will also enter buildings to set up colonies. Forelius ants are harmless but is still a common pest in Arizona.
Forelius ants prefer sweet or sugary foods. They’re even said to have a pleasant or sweet smell when squashed. But definitely don’t squash them. That pleasant smell is a pheromone that calls for back up- which equals more ants.
Sugar Ants
Sugar ants like to hang out on hard, hot surfaces.
That means Sugar Ants love your driveway, pool deck, sidewalk, and foundation (hence their other name, Pavement Ants.
They do sting for self-defense, but it won’t hurt or itch as much as a Fire Ant. But be careful. Some people can be allergic to Pavement Ant venom (bad superhero?). It’s best to avoid a run in, just in case.
Ants In Arizona- It Pays to be Proactive
Ants in Arizona are no joke. It’s much more affordable to be proactive about preventative action towards ants than it is to be reactive.
It’s harder to get rid of a colony than to stop one before it’s built.
If you have any questions about ant pest control, feel free to contact us at Sexton Pest Control.
For over 50 years, we’ve made it our mission to provide unparalleled service and guaranteed customer satisfaction when it comes to fighting back against all pests.
We guarantee that your ant problem will be eliminated, or we will come back out, free of charge.