Outside of regular maintenance of your home and yard, Affordable Pest Control will provide regular pest control services for your property. We have been serving the Queen Creek, Gilbert, Mesa, and San Tan Valley areas since 2013. Our experienced, background-checked technicians will provide you with a level of care that is unmatched by any other pest control company in the east valley. With plans that fit every budget, we will ensure that your home is free of Arizona’s most common pests, including ants.
So, You Think You Have an Ant Infestation?
Almost everyone has come across these uninvited guests at least once and they are considered the number one nuisance pest in America. Even though there are over 700 types of ants in the United States, living in Arizona, there are only six common types of ants.
1. Harvester Ant
Harvester ants get their name from their method of sourcing food. They quite literally “harvest” seeds for their consumption. These ants can leave bare spots in your lawn as they work to remove vegetation to build their nests. Because these ants also sting, you don’t want them in your home. Key characteristics: red, brown, black in color, about ¼-½ inch in length, mid-section spines, and some species have long hairs on their heads called “beards.”
2. Odorous House Ant
While these ants don’t pose a health risk and they don’t bite or sting, they do have a strong, rotten-coconut smell when crushed. That’s where they get their “odorous” name. These ants tend to build their nests near moisture sources, including wood damaged by termites. If you have a termite issue, even if it’s been remedied, the damaged wood could make for a perfect home for the Odorous House ant. Key characteristics: brown or black in color, one-sixteenth to one-eighth of an inch long.
3. Argentine Ant
The Argentine ant is a wingless, invasive species. They travel in trails, reproduce quickly and are very resilient. An infestation of Argentine Ants is one type of ant that should be treated by a professional as soon as possible. Key characteristics: light to dark brown in color, between 2.2 to 2.8 mm long.
4. Pavement Ant
Pavement ants are the most common in Arizona and make their nests in, you guessed it, cracks in the pavement. They also make homes under rocks and indoors in walls and floors. These ants eat nearly anything put in front of them. From inspects, bread, meat, nuts, etc., almost nothing is off limits. The pavement ant is resilient, and they will travel up to 30 feet for food. Key characteristics: uniformly small, about 3mm long, dark brown to black in color.
5. Fire Ant
The dreaded Fire ant. These pests sting and it hurts! A person stung by fire ants will receive more than one sting from more than one ant. People can be allergic to the stings, and while it likely isn’t cause for a visit to the ER, the stings can cause swelling and itching. Fire ants build their nests in mounds, 2-4 square feet in size, flattened and irregular in shape. If you come across a Fire ant nest, it’s best to call Affordable Pest Control right away to remedy the situation. Keep kids and pests away from the nests in the meantime.
6. Carpenter Ant
You’ve likely heard of the Carpenter ant as they can cause significant damage to wood around your home. Attracted to wood softened by fungus or moisture issues, these ants don’t eat the wood, but rather chew through it to make their nests. A mature colony of Carpenter ants can have 10,000-20,000 workers, making for a real infestation problem. Key characteristics: typically black but can be seen in a combination of black and red, or completely brown or red, ½” to ⅝” long.
Affordable Pest Control has been treating ant infestations since 2013
Determining which type of ant you are seeing can be difficult. Affordable Pest Control has been treating ant infestations since 2013 and we are experts in remedying the issue quickly and affordably. There are things that you can do around your home to prevent and treat ants, but waiting too long can allow the infestation to get out of control and be harder to remedy. For a free, no-obligation quote, please request a quote on our website or call us at (480) 907-7913. If you are ready to sign up, you can do so on our website in just a few minutes and a customer care representative will be in touch to schedule your first visit.
Did you know that one of the most common places that we see ant infections is in multi-family buildings like apartment complexes and condominiums? If you are a property management company and you’d like to discuss how we can help treat your commercial property, please give us a call directly at (480) 907-7913.