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Pest Control for Ants

Ant Control: Expert Solutions to Eliminate Ants for Good

If you’re dealing with an ant infestation, turn to Terminix® for expert pest control that delivers results. Our professional ant control service is designed to eliminate all types of ant infestations, whether they’re affecting your home or business.

Our skilled technicians, your trusted exterminator for ants, are trained to identify and address the specific needs of each infestation, from single treatments for recent colonies to comprehensive, long-term ant control services as part of our ongoing pest control plans. Let us help you get rid of ants for good and prevent them from returning.

Why Ant Infestations Are Harder to Eliminate Than They Look

Ants are one of the most common pests found in homes and businesses, and they are incredibly persistent. One of the main reasons they are so difficult to eliminate is because of their unique communication method — pheromone trails. These chemical signals guide thousands of ants back and forth from their nest to food sources, meaning that simply killing the ants you see won’t solve the problem. You need to disrupt the entire colony, including the queen, to eliminate the infestation for good.

Ant colonies can be massive, with up to 500,000 worker ants living together, all following the pheromone trail laid by their queen. The queen, safely hidden away in the nest, can live for years and produce hundreds of eggs daily, so eliminating just the visible ants won’t prevent the colony from returning. This is why professional ant control services are necessary for lasting results — the queen and the rest of the colony must be targeted.

Common Types of Ants Our Exterminators Treat

At Terminix, we treat various types of ants that invade homes and businesses. Here are the most common species found in our service areas:

Odorous House Ants

  • Where They Nest: In walls, under floors, and around kitchens.
  • Behavior: These small, brown ants are often attracted to sugary foods and water.
  • Why Professional Treatment is Needed: These ants are notorious for forming large colonies and can be difficult to eliminate without professional help.

Carpenter Ants

  • Where They Nest: Carpenter ants make their nests inside wood, which can cause structural damage over time.
  • Behavior: Unlike termites, they do not consume the wood but excavate it to create galleries.
  • Why Professional Treatment is Needed: Carpenter ants can weaken wooden structures, leading to costly repairs. Professional treatment targets the colony at its source, preventing long-term damage.

Fire Ants

  • Where They Nest: These aggressive ants build large mounds outdoors, often near lawns, gardens, or around foundations.
  • Behavior: Fire ants deliver painful stings and can quickly invade homes, especially when disturbed.
  • Why Professional Treatment is Needed: Fire ants can be dangerous, especially for children and pets, and their colonies are difficult to manage without the right equipment and expertise.

Pavement Ants

  • Where They Nest: Pavement ants commonly nest under sidewalks, driveways, and along foundation cracks.
  • Behavior: They’re attracted to food and moisture, often invading homes in search of resources.
  • Why Professional Treatment is Needed: Professional treatment ensures that ants are eliminated from both inside and outside the home, preventing reinfestation.

Professional Solutions for All Ant Species

Discover the most common ant species and how Terminix’s ant control services can prevent damage and ensure long-term protection for your home or business.

Ant Species

Where They Nest

Main Damage or Risk

Best Treatment

Odorous House Ants

Under floors, inside walls

Food contamination

Baiting + perimeter treatment

Carpenter Ants

Inside wood structures

Structural wood damage

Targeted nest treatment

Fire Ants

Outdoor mounds in lawns

Painful venomous stings

Mound + broadcast treatment

Pavement Ants

Under driveways and sidewalks

Foundation entry, food contamination

Perimeter treatment + exclusion

Argentine Ants

Soil near buildings

Super-colonies, food contamination

Baiting + moisture reduction

Signs You Have an Ant Infestation in Your Home

Ant infestations can be tricky to spot early on. Here are some key indicators that you may have an infestation:

  • Visible Ant Trails: If you see a line of ants marching to and from a food or moisture source, it’s a clear sign of an infestation.
  • Sawdust-like Frass: Carpenter ants leave behind frass (wood shavings) near nesting sites.
  • Ant Mounds: Look for small mounds of dirt outside your home, often near driveways, sidewalks, or foundation cracks.
  • Winged Ants: In late spring, flying ants (swarmers) may appear around windows, signaling a potential colony reproduction.

How Terminix Ant Control Service Gets Rid of Ants for Good

Our comprehensive four-step treatment process ensures that ants are eliminated at every stage, giving you peace of mind that the infestation won’t return.

  • Step 1: Inspection: Our ant exterminators start with a thorough inspection of your home or business to identify the species of ants and the extent of the infestation. This helps us determine the best course of action for treatment.
  • Step 2: Diagnosis: We diagnose the root causes of the infestation — is it food sources, moisture, or shelter? By identifying the underlying factors, we tailor our approach to provide effective solutions.
  • Step 3: Protection: We apply targeted treatments, including baiting systems and residual insecticides, to eliminate the ants at the source. We use safe, low-concentration products to ensure your family and pets are protected during the treatment process.
  • Step 4: Monitoring: At Terminix, we don’t stop at just treatment — we provide follow-up visits to ensure that the ants don’t return. Monitoring is a crucial step that ensures the success of the treatment and guarantees long-term protection.

DIY Ant Control vs Professional Ant Exterminator – What Actually Works?

Many homeowners try to tackle ant infestations with DIY solutions, but these methods often fail to eliminate the root of the problem. Common DIY methods like ant sprays and traps only kill the visible worker ants, leaving the colony intact. The queen and the rest of the colony continue to thrive, and a new generation of ants is sent out to forage.

Professional treatments, however, focus on the entire colony, including the queen, to ensure that the infestation is truly eradicated. Only a professional ant control service can deliver lasting results, including specialized techniques like pheromone disruption and advanced baiting systems that target the colony at its source.

Terminix Ant Exterminator — Is It Safe for My Family and Pets?

Safety is a top priority when it comes to pest control. At Terminix, we use family- and pet-safe treatments specifically designed to eliminate ants without putting your loved ones at risk. Our responsible application methods limit exposure to pesticides, ensuring your home remains safe while effectively treating the infestation. We prioritize safety, applying treatments in a manner that minimizes contact with people and pets. After the treatment, we provide clear instructions on when it’s safe for your children and pets to return to the treated areas.

HOW TERMINIX CONTROLS ANTS AND SOLVES YOUR PROBLEM

We’ll arrive at your home or place of business armed and ready to get rid of ants in your space the same day. We’ll perform an inspection to assess the current level of ant infestation and then prescribe the precise mix of ant extermination materials combined with prevention to ensure your ant treatment is a good as it can be.

At Terminix®, we don’t just treat the problem, we treat the cause. We’ll also find the source of your ant infestation and employ powerful countermeasures to take out the queen and eliminate the colony from the top down as well as from the bottom up.

Key Features

  • Expert Technicians: Our team undergoes over 160 hours of training, ensuring they have the expertise to handle any ant infestation.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: From identifying the species to eliminating the entire colony, our four-step process ensures that ants are removed and kept out.
  • Eco-Friendly Approach: We use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, focusing on environmentally responsible treatments.
  • Guaranteed Results: We stand behind our service with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

FAQs

How long does it take for Terminix ant treatment to show results?

Terminix’s ant control treatment typically begins to show results within 24 to 48 hours, depending on the level of infestation. Full eradication may take several days to a week, with follow-up visits ensuring the complete elimination of the colony.

What does a Terminix ant exterminator do during a service visit?

During a visit, a Terminix technician will inspect your property, identify the ant species, and apply targeted treatments, including baiting and insecticides, to eliminate the infestation.

What makes Terminix ant control different from other exterminators?

Terminix offers a four-step treatment process, experienced technicians, and follow-up monitoring to ensure long-term results. We also use eco-friendly methods for the safety of your family and pets.

Do I need to leave my house during the ant treatment?

No, you don’t need to leave your house during the treatment process. However, we recommend keeping children and pets away from treated areas until they are dry, which typically takes a few hours. We ensure your home is safe to re-enter quickly.

How do I know if I have carpenter ants vs regular ants?

Carpenter ants are larger than regular ants and cause structural damage to wood. Look for sawdust-like frass and hollow-sounding wood as signs of a carpenter ant infestation.

Don’t wait for ants to return-reach out to Terminix for lasting pest control solutions today!

Read What Our Clients
Are Saying

My Terminix tech Scott is the best! He is professional, courteous and absolutely thorough about his job. Thank you for sending such a blessed tech to my house. Hamlet, NC

Dot Janus

This letter is to say how pleased we are here at Morreene West Apartments with your services. We are very pleased with the technician, Christopher. He does a great job. Durham, NC

Carolyn Anderson

Terminix has consistently offered our apartment complex reliable, competent service. We are completely satisfied with their knowledgeable representative who is always punctual and does a superior job for us every time. Chapel Hill, NC

Nancy C. Riley

I would like to take the time to thank you for giving us such great service here at Carver Pond Apartments. Your Pest Technician Christopher Mitchell has provided us with excellent service over the last few months. Christopher is such a great help to us in providing helpful information so that we can better serve our residents here at Carver Pond. Durham, NC

Vickie White

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To learn more about our ant treatment methods and to get rid of ants in your space, call 1-800-BUGS-911 (800-284-7911) to schedule a free initial consultation today, or use our location finder to find your nearest office!

Proudly serving customers in Fayetteville, Elizabeth City, Wilmington, Raleigh, New Bern, Goldsboro, Cary and Durham, NC as well as Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News and Smithfield, VA.