You may not notice them much outside, but if they’re crawling across your countertops, ants can be a major nuisance. For Tucson residents, there are quite a few different types of ants that can end up in your home, including:

• Harvester ants: As their name suggests, harvester ants are great at “harvesting” seeds to eat. Since they’re not afraid to sting, having harvester ants around your home can be more than just an annoyance – it can be painful.
• Argentine ants: Growing a tenth of an inch long, Argentine ants travel in long, wide trails and love picking up food crumbs you’ve got lying around your home.
• Odorous house ants: Similar to Argentine ants, odorous house ants are after your sweets and meats. They give off a musty odor when they’re crushed.
• Carpenter ants: In addition to chasing food crumbs, carpenter ants cause structural damage by chewing through the wood in your home.
• Fire ants: Fire ants may prefer to build their mounds outside, but if you encounter a nest on your property, these critters aren’t afraid to give you fiery, burning stings.

Whether you’ve got the annoying house ant or the painful fire ant in your home, these pests can contaminate food, cause structural damage, and health concerns. Here’s what Tucson homeowners should know about what attracts ants to a property, how you can prevent them, and what to do if you’ve already got an ant infestation in your home.

What Attracts Ants To Tucson Homes?

Ants are usually attracted to your home because of the same three things:

• Food: While ants will eat just about any food debris or crumbs you leave out, they’re especially attracted to sugary foods and sweets. Meat, bread, and even pet food sitting in your pet’s food bowl can draw ants in and serve as a food source.
• Water: Standing water, like a water bowl, leaky pipe, or even anything remotely damp, can keep ants coming back for more.
• Damaged, wet, or moldy wood: While house ants and Argentine ants may not be interested in wood, carpenter ants love to feast on damaged, moldy, or wet wood structures around your property.

When foraging for food or water becomes more difficult in the winter, ants can become especially aggressive about looking for food and water – making it even more important to reduce ant attractions around your home. 

How To Prevent Ants In Tucson, AZ

Now that you understand what attracts ants into Tucson homes, the next step is understanding how to reduce attractions – and prevent these pests from getting in. Here are a few quick tips for lowering the risk of ant problems around your property:

• Make sure you’re keeping leftovers in airtight containers or sealed packaging so that ants can’t smell them. 
• Don’t leave pet food sitting out.
• Wash dirty dishes in a timely manner, and don’t leave them sitting overnight.
• Empty your indoor and outdoor garbage bins regularly and keep them sealed. 
• Address moisture issues, like leaky pipes and faucets, as soon as you notice them. 
• Get rid of damaged and moldy wood and structures around your home and property.
• Identify cracks and crevices in your foundation that may let ants get inside, and seal them off with a sealant.
• Clear yard debris from your yard and property regularly and inspect items before you bring them inside.
• Keep up with regular lawn maintenance and inspect for fire ant mounds around your property and near your home.

The Most Effective Form Of Ant Control In Tucson, AZ

Reducing ant attractions and preventing them can only go so far. If you’re dealing with an existing ant problem, there’s only one solution: contacting the professionals at Pest Friends for more assistance. Our professionals have seen and dealt with it all, from nuisance house ants to more serious pests, like the fire ants. We know how to permanently eliminate ants from your Tucson home. 

If you’re finding ants around your home or property in Tucson, you shouldn’t give the infestation more time to grow and cause problems. Call us today at Pest Friends to learn more about total ant control or schedule an inspection of your home.