Most ant problems in the Valley start outside. Ants come in looking for water and food, especially when summer heat dries everything out, and a trail inside almost always leads back to a nest near the house.
Which ant do you have?
- Pavement ants. Small and dark brown to black. They nest under slabs, sidewalks, and pavers and push up little piles of sand along the cracks.
- Odorous house ants. Tiny and dark, with a smell like rotten coconut when crushed. They trail across counters toward sweets and moisture.
- Argentine ants. Small and light to dark brown. Their colonies have many queens and can get huge, with long, busy trails indoors and out.
- Harvester ants. Large and reddish, with a painful sting. They clear bare circles of dirt in yards and desert lots.
Where they come from
Ants follow moisture and food, and they use anything that touches the house as a bridge. Here are the most common entry points we find:
- Cracks in the slab and foundation
- Irrigation lines, drip emitters, and AC lines
- Pavers and landscape rock against the house
- Plants and branches touching walls or the roof
- Gaps around doors, windows, and plumbing
- Kitchen sinks, dishwashers, and pet food bowls
The ants you see are a small fraction of the colony. The queens stay home.
What our treatment does
We identify which ant you have, follow the trails back to the nest, and treat the nest areas and entry points around your foundation. Different species need different approaches, so getting the ID right comes first.
What treatment can’t do
We’ll be straight with you: ants are persistent. Colonies in a neighbor’s yard or under a shared wall can send new scouts your way, and some species split into new colonies when they’re disturbed. It can take more than one visit to get a stubborn colony under control.
What actually helps
- Wipe the trail. Clean trails with soapy water to erase the scent ants follow.
- Seal up food. Store sweets, pet food, and pantry items in sealed containers.
- Fix leaks. Repair dripping faucets and irrigation leaks near the house.
- Trim back plants. Keep branches and shrubs from touching walls and the roof.
- Skip the store-bought sprays. Spraying a trail scatters the ants and can make the colony harder to find.
Common questions
Why do ants keep coming back after I spray?
Sprays kill the ants you can see, but most of the colony, including the queens, stays hidden in the nest. Colonies with many queens, like Argentine ants, can simply move or spread out. Getting rid of them means dealing with the nest and the trails, not just the ants on the counter.
Do ants in Las Vegas sting or bite?
Most ants that come indoors here, like pavement, odorous house, and Argentine ants, are a nuisance rather than a danger. Harvester ants are the exception. They have a painful sting, so keep kids and pets away from the bare dirt circles around their nests.
Why are ants worse in the summer?
Summer heat dries out the soil and plants that ants normally get water from, so they come inside looking for moisture. Kitchens, bathrooms, and pet water bowls are the usual targets.
Tips and tricks
Let the ants show you where they’re coming from. Before you wipe up a trail, take a minute to follow it. Note where the ants enter the house, like a gap under a door, a crack in the baseboard, or a hole around a pipe. That’s the most useful thing you can tell your technician.
Get help with ants
Ants keep finding their way back inside? We’ll identify the species, track down the nest, and give you an honest plan.
Other pests we handle: Scorpions, Cockroaches, Spiders, Rodents, Crickets, Stinging Insects, Bed Bugs, Flies & Gnats, Mosquitoes, Ticks & Fleas, Beetles, Centipedes & Millipedes, Silverfish, Pillbugs & Sowbugs. See the full pest library.