Ant Control Dallas

Ants Common In Dallas & Surrounding Area

Although Dallas has a wide variety of ant species, most of them do not prefer the same food sources. While most of the ants listed below are not threatening to humans, some ants, like carpenter ants, can cause damage to wood features around your home. Others, like fire ants, can sting and bite. If you have family members who are allergic to bee stings, this ant species could be dangerous. Take a look at the list below and if you see any of these ants in or around your home, give us a call at Home Run Pest & Termite Control.

Acrobat Ants

Acrobat ants are frequently confused with carpenter ants and can only be distinguished by close inspection. Acrobat ants are all the same size with two spines on the thorax. Unlike carpenter ants, they are mostly active during the day. When irritated, acrobat ants lift their bodies into the air as a defensive posture. Acrobat ants typically nest in trees, but will also move indoors if conditions are favorable. The best way to remove an Acrobat ant infestation is to use a power sprayer to treat outdoors. The power sprayer holds a low toxicity, low odor pesticide that is used in outdoor application.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large dark brown ants which are mostly nocturnal. Nests are constructed in boxes, branches of trees, ceilings, hollow tree trunks and walls. These ants build linear trails along buildings, fences and tree branches. Carpenter ants have a painful bite, but do not sting. Carpenter ants are treated in a similar way that termites are treated, in that we will treat the affected areas with a spot treatment of Termidor. This will remove the colony without requiring a large pesticide application.

Crazy Ants

Fast and erratic in behavior, crazy ants commonly infest buildings throughout the greater Dallas area. Crazy ants nest in moist locations like potted plants, near kitchen sinks and in bathrooms. Crazy ants are best treated with granular baits or a power spray application. Granular baits work when the ant takes the non-repellant bait back to the colony. From there, the bait will wipe out the ant infestation. If a power spray application is needed, we will use a low odor, low toxicity pesticide for outdoor application.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are common all over Texas and are known for their aggressive response to any disturbance of the nest. A fire ant’s sting is very painful and can cause allergic reactions. Fire ants are easily identified by their reddish-brown coloration and large dirt mound nests. Fire ants enter buildings in search of food and water, especially in late summer when outside sources of water are scarce. Fire ants require immediate treatment of their mound. In this case, we use a direct application of a non-repellant pesticide to the mound and the surrounding area. This non-repellant treatment acts like a virus spreading throughout the fire ant colony, killing the nest.

Leaf-cutting Ants

These large ants have a very distinctive nest and leaf-carrying behavior. Leaf cutter ants nest outdoors making crater shaped mounds in soil. Workers carry freshly cut leaves and other plant material to the nest. These materials are carefully placed into special gardens on which they grow a special kind of fungus, which the ants eat. Leaf-cutting ants are reddish-brown in color with long legs and spines on their bodies. Leaf cutter ants are best treated with a granular bait or power spray application. Both pesticides are labeled for outdoor application and will not require you to leave the home during treatment.

Odorous House Ants

The odorous house ant is a common ant to all of Texas. Odorous ants love sweets and are often found in kitchens. These ants nest outdoors between bricks, inside openings like wall voids, under mulch and stones. Their smooth, medium-sized bodies produce a distinctive, licorice-like, smell when crushed. If an indoor pesticide application is needed, we will use small dose of low toxicity, low odor pesticide in the affected areas. From there, we will recommend a regular outdoor treatment to keep them from returning.

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants are one of the only ants that nest indoors. They are yellowish-clear in color and make their nests in dark, narrow spaces like electrical boxes and wall voids. Pharaoh ants feed on foods high in sugar or protein. If Pharaoh ants are invading your home and we need to do an indoor pesticide application, we will use a small dose of low toxicity, low odor pesticide in the affected areas. After the initial treatment, we will recommend a regular ant control service to keep them from returning.