Ant Exterminator
Near YouCarpenter · Fire · Sugar · Pavement · Argentine · Pharaoh

Carpenter ants are large (up to 3/4 inch), black or black-and-red, with a clearly pinched waist. They do not eat wood — they excavate it, leaving clean smooth galleries. Termites are smaller, creamy white, with straight antennae and a thick waist. Termite damage has soil and mud mixed in. The practical test: find a piece of damaged wood. Clean and smooth galleries = ants. Muddy, soil-lined galleries = termites.

Retail sprays contain repellents that kill the ants they contact but signal the colony to find new entry points. Spraying one trail causes the colony to establish three new ones. Professional gel baits work differently — workers carry the bait back to the colony, poisoning the queen and eliminating the source. This is why professional treatment succeeds where repeated spraying fails.

When a pharaoh ant colony is disturbed by spray, it splits into multiple smaller colonies — each with their own queen — and disperses throughout the home. A problem in one room becomes a problem in every room. This is why pharaoh ants absolutely cannot be treated with spray or foggers. If you suspect pharaoh ants (tiny yellow ants, especially in the bathroom or kitchen), call a professional and do NOT spray.

Gel bait treatments show significant ant reduction within 48-72 hours as workers carry bait back to the colony. Complete elimination of a sugar ant or pavement ant colony typically occurs within 1-2 weeks. Carpenter ant treatment in walls may take 2-3 weeks for a large colony. Fire ant mound treatment can kill a mound within 24-72 hours, though new mounds may appear from other parts of the colony requiring follow-up.

Carpenter ants cause significant structural damage over time. They excavate large galleries in moist or damaged wood — floor joists, window frames, door frames, and wall studs. The damage worsens silently over years. Other species — fire ants, sugar ants, pavement ants — do not cause structural damage but contaminate food and can trigger allergic reactions. Fire ant stings can be life-threatening for people with venom allergies.

Do not disturb fire ant mounds — they will swarm and sting aggressively. Keep children and pets well away. Call a professional for proper treatment. For immediate safety, mark the mound location and restrict access. Professional fire ant treatment uses a two-step approach: broadcast bait scattered around the yard (workers carry it to the queen), followed by individual mound treatment. Far more effective than boiling water or home remedies that only move the colony.

Ants in the bathroom are almost always following moisture — a leaking pipe under the sink, condensation on pipes, caulk failure around the tub, or a slow drain leak. They may also have established a nest in wall voids with moisture damage. Fix the moisture source first, then call for treatment. If ants persist after fixing leaks, a nest inside the wall is likely and requires professional treatment.

Signs of interior ant nesting include: large black ants (carpenter ants) emerging from wall voids or baseboards, rustling or crackling sounds from walls especially at night, sawdust-like frass near baseboards or window frames, and ants appearing from electrical outlets or light switches. These signs mean the colony is established inside your home structure — not just foraging from outside — and require professional treatment.