Ant Control
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Phoenix Ant Control
Our ant pest control specialists in the Phoenix metropolitan area can help.
Ant infestations are a major problem in Arizona, where warm temperatures and plentiful sources of food make the region the perfect environment for these pesky pests. Whether they’re invading your home, garden, or workplace, ants can cause an array of problems.
Not only do they contaminate food with their droppings and spread germs, but depending on the type, they may also bite and sting people and pets. It’s important to take proactive steps to keep them from turning from a mere nuisance to a severe problem.
Types of Ants Common in Arizona
In Arizona, ant infestations are common due to the hot and dry desert climate. There are several species of ants that are common in Arizona, including carpenter ants, fire ants, harvester ants, pharaoh ants, sugar ants, and Argentine ants. Each species has slightly different traits and behaviors, but all have a tendency to invade homes looking for water and food.
Harvester Ants
Harvester ants tend to live outdoors and feast on seeds, but because they build their colonies close to homes, they can end up damaging patios and driveways when they burrow underneath.
Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants also live outdoors but often build nests inside walls, which can destroy insulation and create holes in drywall.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants burrow into wood and can cause significant damage to structures like fences or decks.
Fire Ants
Fire ants prefer desert-like climates and build large mounds around homes, where their burning stings make it precarious to spend time outdoors where they may be lurking.
Argentine Ants
Dangerously, Argentine ants can create a nesting area in electrical wiring and cause shorts in outlets or appliances.
Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are notorious for contaminating food sources, posing a potential health hazard to homeowners, and their colonies can spread quickly, as their queens lay up to 25 eggs per day.
Sugar Ants
Sugar ants are attracted to sugary substances like food sources or liquid spills; Argentine ants may also feed on sweet foods, ruining an otherwise perfect barbecue with friends.
Ant Control for Your Phoenix, Arizona Home
In certain parts of the country, keeping ants away can seem like a full-time job, and Arizona is no exception.
Protecting Your Home’s Exterior From Ants
Homeowners should regularly inspect the exterior of their homes for signs of an ant infestation, such as trails and nests. It is important to properly seal entry points around windows and doors with weatherstripping and ensure that all leaks are repaired.
Keeping mulch and debris away from the foundation of your home and piling firewood away from the home will go a long way towards reducing the potential for an unwanted infestation. Trash cans and stores of pet food can also attract ants outdoors.
Protecting Your Home’s Interior From Ants
Indoors, all food should be kept in airtight containers or in the refrigerator, and the kitchen must be kept fastidiously clean; otherwise, before you know it, you may be hosting a whole colony.
Natural solutions such as diatomaceous earth and borax powder can be extremely effective in controlling ants. Diatomaceous earth is a type of sedimentary rock that can be sprinkled around areas where ants tend to enter the house, such as windows and door frames.
Borax powder is another natural solution that works in a similar way by creating an invisible barrier that ants cannot cross. Both diatomaceous earth and borax powder will dehydrate the ant’s exoskeleton, ultimately killing them or repelling them from the vicinity of the home. Reapplication at least twice per month or after it has been disturbed by wind or rain will ensure effectiveness against these annoying pests.
Professional Pest Control Services for Ants in Phoenix
There may be some ant problems that simply cannot be prevented or treated without professional help. Despite your best efforts, ants can enter the home via nearly invisible gaps and take up residence in the wood struts that support your home’s frame, which may cause significant damage if left for too long.
Phoenix ant control specialists typically treat ants by assessing the infestation and developing a treatment plan tailored to the specific needs of the space. Common ant removal techniques include precise application of baits and various insecticides applied directly to areas where the ants have been seen entering or exiting. In some cases, specialized equipment like dusters may be utilized to ensure that corners and cracks, which are prime places for ant colonies, are also treated.
Prevention is a major aspect of professional ant control, so your exterminator may spend a good deal of time hunting for ingress points that you’re not aware of and plugging them up once and for all. Sealing cracks and crevices in the foundation with caulk or expansion foam can prevent ants from destroying structural elements of your home. That way, a regular application of insecticide is all that will be needed for ongoing ant control.
Looking for natural ant control services in Phoenix that are easy on the environment, your home and the people who live in it (no toxic chemicals)? Contact Polite Pest. We combine the right treatments to fit your specific ant problem. We know that ants can develop resistance to certain treatments, and we ensure that this won’t happen in your home. We’ll make sure that our ant control services are the last ones you’ll ever need.