The weather getting warmer is usually a cause of joy for most people. However, if you live in Scottsdale then warm weather might signal the return of annoying ants. You may even start noticing anthills near your residence or business. Whenever this happens, it is usually just a matter of time before the ants find their way inside your house or business. While this may seem like a minor nuisance at surface level, you should take a moment to consider how much damage ants can cause.

You may experience different kinds of damage depending on the type of ants that infest your premises. Some common ant species in Scottsdale and the potential damage they could cause include:
I. Carpenter Ants
They destroy structures mostly by tunneling through wood.
II. Fire Ants
A common species in Arizona, they are aggressive and could potentially kill people with their sting.
III. Harvester Ants
While unlikely to invade your home, these ants can build huge outdoor mounds in your yard and defend them aggressively.

Reasons for Ant Infestations
Food is the primary reason for almost all ant infestations. Ants choose to invade places with easy and enticing food sources. Different ants are attracted to different foods depending on their species and age. For instance, sugary foods and pet food often attract black ants.

How to Treat Ant Infestations
Before treatment, your technician will find out what attracts the ants and either remove it or prevent the ants from accessing it. By assessing the ant trail, your technician can determine where the colony lives.
The most common treatments for ant infestations are baits, non-repellents or a combination of both. There may be more ants after a bait treatment because ants get attracted to the bait then share it with other members of the colony including the queen. Typically, ants that consume the bait die between ten days and two weeks after the treatment.

How to Prevent Ant Infestations
Knowing how common ants are in Scottsdale and their reputation as prolific colonizers, preventing them from infesting your premises should be a top priority. Some easy ways you can prevent ant infestations in your business or home include:
I. Storing all food in airtight containers.
II. Thoroughly cleaning up potential food sources like crumbs and pet food.
III. Sealing all potential entry points such as cracks and crevices.

If you have an ant problem in the Scottsdale, AZ area call our Scottsdale Pest Control professionals to help get rid of any ant infestation you might be having.