Did you know there are more than 1,000 species of ants in the United States? Arizona has its share of ant species, and while most are pretty harmless, they can still be quite annoying in your home and yard.
The good news is that this guide has all the information you need to identify the types of ants in Arizona that invade your home or yard and find out which ants pose a threat to humans and pets.
1. Carpenter Ant
Carpenter ants are one of the most common types in the United States and are also known for being some of the largest.
They can grow to be about half an inch long, and their heads are enormous compared to their bodies. You can identify them by looking for sawdust near your home.
If you see that, then you know that carpenter ants are nearby. They like to chew on wood, including furniture and walls, which is often a problem inside homes and other buildings.
To get rid of these ants in Arizona quickly, homeowners should contact pest control professionals specializing in eradicating carolers ants.
Use talcum powder or cayenne pepper as a barrier around baseboards for less invasive treatments. The cayenne pepper will give them an intense burning sensation, but it’s worth it because carpenter ants can cause significant damage to your home and belongings if untreated.
2. Pharaoh Ant
Pharaoh ants are the most common ants found in homes. They’re black and very small, typically less than 1/8 inch long, making them difficult to see. Some people mistake them for termites because they are so small.
Pharaoh ants can’t eat through paper or cardboard, but they will build nests on these surfaces if it’s the only option.
These ants in Arizona like sweets and will be more attracted to an area with sugar than one without any food.
If you notice that these ants suddenly show up when there hasn’t been any food around for a while, then this is a sign that you have Pharaoh ants, and their nest is nearby.
3. Red Imported Fire Ant
Most people are familiar with fire ants and know they will most likely be found in Arizona. These ants in Arizona can be found worldwide but mainly thrive in warmer climates.
The red imported fire ant is known for being exceptionally aggressive and has a painful sting.
They’re also known for their tendency to swarm and attack anything that disturbs them, including pets or humans.
These ants are also known for building colonies containing multiple queens, which means that if you get rid of one territory, there will be another nearby, so you’ll have to keep looking.
4. Odorous House Ant
The odorous house ant is one of the most common ants in your home. These ants are black or dark brown, but their antennae are reddish-brown. You’ll know these ants by their pungent odor that smells like rotten coconuts or coconut oil.
They can swarm inside and outside your home to gather food and water sources, so it’s essential to keep an eye out for them around your property.
These types of ants in Arizona can be found throughout the United States. Still, they are particularly prevalent in the southern part of the country, where climate conditions favor them to thrive.
In addition, they typically live within 50 yards of their colony, so keeping an eye on areas near your home will help alert you if there is an infestation nearby.
Odorous house ants enter homes when people leave small openings, such as windows open during night hours when temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Pavement Ant
Pavement ants, the black carpenter ants, are prevalent in Arizona. They are often found crawling around on the pavement and other flat surfaces, hence their name.
These ants in Arizona can be identified by their bluish color, darker abdomen, and one or two white lines running down their body.
They are most active during the warmer months but can also be seen during colder ones. Some people think they swarm because of heat, but this is incorrect; these ants invade to find food sources, so they may be seen more during warmer months when more food is available.
Many ants in Arizona, such as pavement ants, can enter homes, so it’s essential to stop them from entering.
6. Acrobat Ant
Acrobat ants are a type of ant that belongs to the Myrmicinae subfamily. They are also known as tree ants because they can be found living in trees, making homes out of leaves and branches.
These types of ants in Arizona are typically dark brown or black and measure between 1/8 and 3/8 inches long.
When threatened by a predator, acrobat ants will curl up into a ball, which is how they got their name. Acrobat ants can sting with their mandibles and spray formic acid from the end of their abdomens.
For these reasons, it’s essential to exterminate acrobat ants quickly before they have time to infest your home or yard.
To do so, use boric acid baits near entry points where acrobat ants may come into contact with them. Also, remove any piles of wood or debris close to the house so that acrobat ants don’t have an easy hiding place when looking for food or nesting locations.
Once you have removed potential hiding places, look for more nests using a flashlight at night – during this process, you should wear gloves since some people may develop allergic reactions after being stung by an acrobat ant.
If you find any more nests, remove them immediately and repeat until all of the colonies are eliminated.
7. Thief Ant
Thief ants are one type of ant you want to be on the lookout for because they’re tiny, and their sting is painless.
They sneak into your home during the day or night, take what they need, and then scurry away before you notice them.
They’re also called sugar ants because they love sweet things like honey, fruit juice, and soda.
You’ll usually find them buzzing around your kitchen countertops, looking for food scraps. Once they steal enough sugary foods, they return outside to share with other worker ants.
If you have a thief ant problem, place a bowl of water nearby, making it difficult for them to escape so they can drown or get caught by the dish soap you put there.
You should also keep your counters clean and free of crumbs and anything sweet that could attract these little guys.
8. Little Black Ant
Ants are one of the most common insects found around the house. There are many of these types of ants in Arizona, and they can vary in size. The little black ant is the most common and is often found indoors.
The little black ant typically nests outdoors but will enter homes or other buildings through cracks and crevices to nest indoors during winter.
They may also be attracted to moisture or food sources near exterior walls, such as pet dishes, fountains, and rain gutters.
If you spot a few ants wandering around your home, panic is unnecessary. But if you see more than tenants inside your home at any given time, this could indicate that you have a potential infestation problem on your hands.
9. Sugar Ant
Sugar ants are one of the most common types of ants you’ll find in Arizona. They’re small, have a dark brown to black body, and feed on nectar and other sweet substances.
Sugar ants usually live outdoors and nest underground or in trees.
While these ants are not considered pests, they will invade your home if you have any food out or exposed.
To get rid of sugar ants naturally, put some ant stakes with borax powder around the areas where they enter your home and ensure that all food is sealed up tightly.
You can also try making an herbal solution by mixing water, peppermint oil, and liquid dish soap. Use this mixture as a spray to keep ants away from your kitchen counters, window ledges, and outside near the garbage cans.
10. Crazy Ant
There are many types of ants in Arizona, but the one that everyone has been talking about lately is the crazy ant.
The crazy ant was first introduced to the United States by a cargo ship coming into port on the Gulf Coast. These ants have been spotted all over Arizona, including Tucson and Phoenix.
Crazy ants can be identified by their orange or reddish-brown color; they’re smaller than other species, and they’re known for being particularly aggressive.
Protecting your home from these pests is essential because getting rid of them is tough once they get a foothold!
Here’s what you should do if you spot some crazy ants inside your home: Don’t panic – remember that most types of ants are harmless unless they’re venomous.
Identify the type of ant you see – if it looks crazy, proceed cautiously!
11. Argentine Ant
These ants are the most common types that infest homes and yards. They enter through tiny cracks and crevices, including doors, windows, and electrical outlets. You may not be able to see them because they only come out at night or when it rains.
These ants in Arizona have a reputation for being very aggressive and will swarm you if they feel threatened.
Argentine ants also carry diseases like dysentery, which can make you sick and invade your home. Don’t let these invaders get inside your house!
The next time you find an ant outside your door, keep it closed until morning and then place a barrier around the base of your door to prevent any more from coming inside.
Many different types of ants are found in Arizona, some of which can live with us peacefully. In contrast, others need to be exterminated immediately.
12. White-Footed Ant
You might find many ants in your home, but the most common type is white-footed ants. White-footed ants have a brown or black head and thorax with a lighter-colored abdomen.
They’re about 1/8-inch long and look similar to sugar ants but more slender.
They can be found throughout the United States and Canada. These ants eat nothing other than plant nectar and honeydew, which is why you’ll see them around hummingbird feeders and bee hives.
These ants also love sweets like soda and fruit juice, so if there’s something sweet out, it will surely attract them!
Unlike other types of ants in Arizona, white-footed ants don’t bite or sting humans, but their acidic body fluid will cause some people discomfort when they come into contact with sensitive skin.
13. Citrus Ant
Citrus ants are tiny ants ranging from light brown to dark red. They measure only 1/32 (.8 mm) long and have a distinct odor. Citrus ants can be found throughout much of the United States.
Their presence is usually signified by large numbers of orange-brown insects running around on walls, windowsills, and patio furniture.
These types of ants in Arizona are attracted to sweet substances like fruit or sugary drinks. They also will enter homes when they smell decomposing animal or plant matter such as lawn clippings, mulch, fallen leaves, or garden debris.
Citrus ants can sting if handled but pose no other known risks for humans. The insect’s stinger is not barbed, so it cannot be pulled out of the victim’s skin.
The most effective treatment for citrus ant infestations is a well-timed insecticide spray.
For best results, homeowners should apply a solution of boric acid powder to window sills, floors, and cracks where citrus ants travel.
14. Ghost Ant
Ghost ants are known for their ability to turn translucent and become nearly invisible. They have dark-colored abdomen, but the rest of their body fades into the background. This makes them difficult to see, which is why they are called ghost ants.
Ghost ants are tiny insects that can be either black or brownish, depending on where they live. In Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, ghost ants make up a large percentage of the ant population.
These types of ants in Arizona are not aggressive unless their colony is disturbed or threatened.
They feed on sweet substances like honeydew produced by aphids and sap from plants like corn stalks and citrus trees.
When they invade your home, ghost ants will enter through any open door or window screen left unprotected.
Once inside, they typically stay in the lower levels of your house, such as the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and basement.
One way to tell if you have ghost ants is if you notice pieces of sandpaper attached to surfaces throughout your home; this could mean an insect infestation.
The best way to keep these ants out of your house is to seal any holes with silicone caulking so they can’t get inside.
15. Field Ant
Field ants are giant, brown ants with a single node between their thorax and abdomen. They’re one of the most common types in Arizona and are often found in fields and at the base of trees.
Field ants eat almost anything, including sugary substances like honeydew or nectar.
They can also be found in other insects, such as aphids or scale insects, which they feed upon. These ants in Arizona may not seem harmful, but they can bite if threatened and give a painful sting if they invade your home.
To avoid field ants invading your home, it’s important to keep surfaces clean and dry, seal cracks around doors and windows with caulk, keep clutter under control, and never leave food out.
If you do have field ants in your house, vacuuming is an excellent way to remove them from the area.
16. Pharaoh Ant
Pharaoh ants are one of the most common in the US and are most often infested in homes. Pharaoh ants tend to be red or black, but colonies can have a variety of colors.
They are no bigger than 3/16th inch long and small enough to fit into any space.
They enter your home through cracks and crevices on windowsills and doors, along with gaps around pipes and sinks.
Once inside your home, they will search for food sources such as sugar, honeydew from aphids or other plants that exude sap, and protein sources such as crumbs left behind by humans.
Pharaoh ants also reproduce quickly – one female can produce over 1 million eggs annually.
These types of ants in Arizona are considered pests because they invade your home and eat anything, including bread and sugar. They’ll even try to bite you if given a chance!
If you think you have Pharaoh ants in your home, look for tiny trails of workers moving back and forth along walls, floors, countertops, and objects.
These little pests typically nest outdoors near warm locations like tree stumps or firewood piles.
