Ants · North Arkansas
The trail is the easy part. We go after the colony.
A line of ants on the counter means a colony close by, usually outside under the slab, in the mulch or in a damp spot in the wall. Spray the trail and they just come in somewhere else. Some kinds split into more colonies when you spray them.
- Size
- 1/16 to 1/2 inch
- Busy season
- Spring and summer
- Where
- Kitchen, bath, walls
- Risk
- Food, wood damage
Signs
How to tell what kind of ant problem you have
- Trails to food or waterTiny ants marching along the counter, sink or baseboard. Usually odorous house ants or pavement ants.
- Little piles of dirtSmall sand piles between pavers, along the driveway or at cracks in the slab. Pavement ants.
- Sawdust with bug parts in itCoarse sawdust under a window, in the attic or below a deck. Carpenter ants hollowing out damp wood.
- Winged ants insideA swarm of winged ants inside the house means a mature colony in the walls. Make sure they're not termites.
Where they hide
Where they come from
Most kitchen ants nest outside, under the slab, in mulch beds or under rocks, and come in through cracks and gaps around windows and plumbing.
Carpenter ants need damp wood. A leaky window, a bad roof spot or a rotted porch post is usually where the colony is.
Ants come inside more after heavy rain and during dry spells, looking for higher ground or water.
Know what you've got
The ants we see around here
Odorous house ant
Tiny and dark brown. Smells like rotten coconut when you crush one. The one people call sugar ants. Spraying makes the colony split.
Carpenter ant
Big and black or red-and-black, up to half an inch. Doesn't eat wood but tunnels through damp wood to nest. Active at night.
Pavement ant
Small, dark and slow. Builds dirt piles along cracks in concrete and comes in through the slab.
Acrobat ant
Heart-shaped abdomen it raises over its back. Nests in damaged wood and wall voids.
Our process
How we treat ants
Every job starts with a free inspection. Most homes end up on our quarterly plan, which includes free re-treats between visits. See the plans.
Free inspection
We find the kind of ant and follow the trail back toward the nest.
Baits
Workers carry bait back to the colony and share it with the queen. That's what ends it.
Perimeter treatment
A non-repellent treatment around the foundation that ants walk through without noticing and carry back.
Carpenter ants
We find the nest, treat it, and tell you where the moisture is coming from so they don't move back in.
Before we get there
What you can do today
- Wipe up crumbs and spills, and keep sugar, honey and pet food sealed.
- Trim shrubs and branches so they don't touch the house.
- Pull mulch back from the foundation a few inches.
- Fix leaks and rotted wood, especially if you see carpenter ants.
What not to do
- Don't spray the trail. It splits some colonies into more colonies.
- Don't clean up the trail right after we bait. Let them carry it home.
FAQ
Ants questions
Why do I still see ants after treatment?
With baits, seeing ants for a few days is normal. They're carrying it back to the colony. Give it a week or so.
Are carpenter ants as bad as termites?
They don't eat wood, but they hollow it out to nest, and a big colony left for years can weaken framing. They also point to a moisture problem you want to fix anyway.
Do you treat fire ants?
Call us with what you're seeing. Confirm whether they treat fire ant mounds in yards.
Why are ants worse after it rains?
Rain floods the nests, so they move up and in. Dry spells do the same thing for water.
Keep reading
Other pests we treat
Think you've got ants?
We'll come out, find what you've got, and tell you what it takes. No charge, no pressure.