One minute your kitchen is tidy, and in the next, you wake up the next morning to see little black ants walking across your countertops as if they own the territory. However, these are no run-of-the-mill ants; they are odorous house ants, and they are exceptionally well suited for the conditions provided by Arizona’s desert climate.
Phoenix’s year-round warmth, coupled with urban irrigation, offers ample opportunity for these invasions to get up close and personal with your home. The thing is, they can slip through the tiniest of cracks and seem to be able to come back no matter how many times you think you have killed them. And when DIY fails, it becomes necessary to call a professional ant control in Phoenix to rescue your Phoenix home from these stubborn invaders.
What Are Odorous House Ants?
These small brown to black ants emit a nasty smell when they are crushed. It is not their size that distinguishes these special ants from any other type, but rather the fetid scent released when they are crushed (hence their unpleasant name, literally translated to “rotten coconut”). These are native to the United States, where they adjust outstandingly to the Phoenix desert environment.
Odorous house ant colonies can have multiple queens, unlike other species of ants that have only one, so they are very hard to kill. A colony can have 100–10,000 workers, and the number of colonies increases exponentially in high season. Studies pertaining to those ants estimate that the honey ants survive a couple of years, with workers only surviving upwards of two or three months, but queens surviving for much longer.
Why Are They a Problem in Phoenix Homes?
- Year-Round Activity in a Desert Climate
Since Phoenix does not have cold winters, odorous house ants do not enter into dormancy like in colder climates. With an average winter temperature of 66°F, these ants are still foraging and reproducing when homeowners anticipate a slowdown in pest activity.
- Attraction to Irrigation Systems
The vast residential irrigation systems around Phoenix create pockets of moisture that draw in these ants. Suburban neighborhoods provide prime real estate for these colonies, which nest near sprinkler lines, drip systems, and pool equipment.
- Indoor Food Sources
These are sugar ants, with a taste for all things sugary, pet food, and crumbs all over the kitchen. Many homes in Phoenix provide year-round sources of food through indoor dining and entertaining areas.
- Structural Vulnerabilities
The expansion of building materials found in the buildings and the alternating hot and cold temperatures of the desert climate cause this to happen, leaving small cracks and gaps that the smaller ants get into. Phoenix is home to many adobe and stucco homes lined with hairline cracks that act as highways for ants to invade.
- Multiple Colony Locations
Research indicates that odorous house ant nests within the Phoenix area commonly establish satellite nests that are equal in number both indoors and outdoors, making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eliminate them without professional assistance.
- Rapid Population Growth
In Phoenix’s warm climate, these ants can make numerous generations each year. During peak season, which occurs in late spring and early summer, research shows that established colonies in the Phoenix metro area can have up to 15,000 individuals.
When It Is Time to Bring in the Pros
If you notice ants recurring a few days after a treatment, ants in multiple rooms, or trails leading to your house, call an extermination expert. Green Mango Pest Control specializes in odorous house ant control because we understand the specific challenges Phoenix homeowners face with this pest. They apply integrated pest management tactics with a focus on both immediate pest control and long-term prevention methods.
Remember, professional help is not only beneficial but necessary for dealing with multiple colonies or repeat infestations to be effective long-term at keeping your Phoenix home pest-free.