Signs of an Ant Problem
- Dome-shaped mounds along the driveway or foundation
- Trails that come back after you wipe them away
- Small, erratic ants piling into electrical boxes
- Large black ants with sawdust-like debris below a frame
- Stings and welts after time in the yard
Fire Ants Around the House
Red imported fire ants build loose soil mounds in sunny spots near the driveway, the foundation and the air conditioner pad. Disturb one and hundreds of workers pour out to sting.
Mounds against the slab can also send foragers indoors through cracks and pipe openings.
Spraying an ant trail only removes the scent path. The colony is somewhere else.
Crazy Ants, Carpenter Ants and Kitchen Ants
Tawny crazy ants are small, reddish-brown and invasive, and they run in erratic paths in very large numbers.
Carpenter ants nest in damp or damaged wood. In kitchens, the usual suspects are little black ants and pharaoh ants.
Why Ants Keep Coming Back
The ants on the counter are workers from a colony hidden in a wall, under the slab or in the yard. Different species need different treatments, so identifying the ant matters.
Ant and Fire Ant Questions
Do fire ants bite or sting?
Both. A fire ant grips with its jaws and then stings, often several times, which causes burning pain and later a small white pustule.
What should I do about a fire ant sting?
Wash the area, use a cold compress and try not to break the pustules. Dizziness, trouble breathing or a swollen face or throat after a sting are signs of an allergic reaction and need emergency care.
Do fire ants come in the house?
Sometimes. Fire ants can enter through cracks, foundation gaps and pipe or wire openings while foraging, especially when mounds are near the foundation.
Are fire ants dangerous to dogs?
Yes. Pets that step in a mound can be stung many times, especially on the paws and belly. Watch for swelling, and call a vet for heavy stings or signs of an allergic reaction.
What are the tiny ants in my kitchen?
Common kitchen invaders here include little black ants, pharaoh ants, crazy ants and other small sugar-feeding ants. Correct identification matters because different species respond to different treatments.
What are crazy ants?
Crazy ants are small, reddish-brown to dark ants that run in jerky, erratic paths and can show up in very large numbers. Tawny crazy ants are an invasive species that can build huge colonies.
Why do ants keep coming back?
Most ants you see are workers from a colony hidden in a wall, under the slab or in the yard. Unless the colony is addressed, more workers keep arriving. Wiping trails removes the scent paths they follow.
Are carpenter ants a problem in homes?
Carpenter ants nest in damp or damaged wood rather than eating it. Large black or bicolored ants inside, especially with sawdust-like debris, are worth having checked.
Fire ant mounds by the slab?
Call (512) 200-8685