If you’ve spent a summer in Chandler, Arizona, you’ve probably noticed how quickly ants show up in and around your home. One day, it’s just a couple of ants near the sink, and the next, they’re forming trails through your kitchen, garage, or even your walls. In hot and dry places like Chandler, ant infestations are expected.
In this guide, you’ll learn which types of ants are most active during summer, how to stop a current infestation, and what you can do to keep ants away for good.
Key Takeaways
- Many types of ants in Chandler, like crazy ants and fire ants, become active during summer and invade Arizona homes.
- Each ant species builds nests in different places and needs specific treatment to stop the infestation effectively.
- Solving an active infestation means identifying the ant type, removing food and water, and using slow-acting ant baits.
- Long-term prevention includes sealing entry points, fixing leaks, keeping your yard clean, and using year-round pest control.
Types of Ants You’ll See in Chandler Homes During Summer
Ants might look alike at first, but the type you’re seeing around your home during summer matters more than you think.
If you live in Chandler, here are the most common summer ants you should know about:
Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are a common ant in Arizona. They build nests under sidewalks, driveways, and even inside garage floors.
During summer, they enter homes in search of food and water. Chandler homes with small cracks or gaps in the concrete are especially at risk. Once they find crumbs or pet food, they will keep coming back.
Odorous House Ants
These ants are small, dark brown, and smell bad when you crush them, like rotten coconut. They often come indoors during the monsoon season when rain floods their nests. You’ll usually spot them in kitchens and bathrooms.
Because they’re so small, odorous house ants can hide in tiny spaces and grow their colonies without being noticed right away.
Fire Ants
Fire ants are more aggressive than other ant species. They’re known for painful stings that can cause swelling or allergic reactions. You’ll usually find them in sunny areas like yards, flower beds, or near sprinkler systems.
Chandler’s summer rains soften the soil, making it easier for these ants to build their large mounds.
Argentine Ants
Argentine ants are small but can cause big problems. They form supercolonies that stretch across entire neighborhoods.
These ants love moisture and often live near irrigated lawns or water leaks. They get into homes through small entry points around windows, doors, and utility lines.
Once they find food, they leave strong ant trails that others follow.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood like termites, but they dig into it to build their nests. That’s a big problem for homeowners with wooden structures like sheds, decks, or roof edges.
If monsoon rain causes wood to soften, they will move in and create tunnels. Over time, this can damage your home and even affect its strength.
Crazy Ants
Crazy ants move fast and in all directions, which makes them hard to track. They often nest in electronics like outdoor boxes or AC units. These ants have been a growing issue in Gilbert, Mesa, and other surrounding areas.
Since they don’t follow normal trails, they can be tricky to control without help from pest control experts.
How to Handle an Active Summer Ant Infestation
Ants in your home can turn into a bigger problem fast, but the right steps can help you stop them. To make real progress, you’ll need more than a surface fix.
Here’s how to deal with an active ant infestation in Chandler, the smart way:
Identify the Species and Behavior
Different ant species need different treatments. Some split into more colonies if you spray them, while others may hide deeper in the walls.
Identifying the type is the first step toward choosing the right solution. Professional ant control services in Chandler can help with this.
Remove Water and Food Sources
Ants come inside to find what they need to survive, mainly food and water.
Wipe down counters, sweep daily, and store food in airtight containers. Don’t forget pet bowls, trash cans, or sinks with standing water. These small things can attract entire ant colonies.
Seal Entry Points Around Your Home
Look for gaps around windows, baseboards, and pipes.
Chandler homes often have crevices or small cracks that make it easy for ants, scorpions, and even cockroaches to get in. Sealing up these entry points can stop new infestations before they start.
Use Ant Baits, Not Just Sprays
Killing ants with spray might feel like a win, but it won’t solve the bigger problem. Ant baits are better because the workers carry the bait back to the colony.
Choose slow-acting, gel-based baits that stay effective in hot weather. This gives the workers time to share the bait with the rest of the colony, including the queen.
How to Prevent Future Summer Ant Problems in Chandler
Once you’ve cleared out an ant problem, the next step is keeping them out for good. In Chandler, that takes more than luck.
Here’s what you can do to help prevent another infestation:
Take Care of Your Yard
Overgrown plants, leaf piles, and woodpiles near the house can attract ants.
Argentine ants, in particular, love cool, shady, and wet places. Keep grass trimmed, fix any outdoor leaks, and make sure mulch isn’t pushed right up against your foundation.
Fix Leaks Right Away
Ants, especially carpenter ants and fire ants, search for water during the dry Arizona summer. Leaky hoses, pipes, or faucets can draw them in.
Water damage can also weaken wooden areas of your home, which may lead to termite and carpenter ant problems. Quick repairs can prevent all that.
Don’t Overuse DIY Sprays
It’s tempting to grab a can and spray ants when you see them, but some DIY sprays can make the problem worse. Some species scatter when sprayed, creating more nests. Others avoid the spray but continue building hidden colonies.
If you need to treat ants yourself, use the right kind of ant bait, and read the label carefully.
Get Year-Round Pest Control
In Chandler, ants are a summer problem, but some species stick around all year.
Regular pest management helps keep your home protected through every season, especially when paired with termite control or scorpion prevention.
Schedule a Free Inspection Early
The earlier you find signs of an ant infestation, the easier it is to get rid of it. Many local pest control companies offer a free inspection before summer hits. This is your chance to catch a problem before it grows, and it usually comes with a free quote for treatment.
At Green Home Pest Control, we offer safe, eco-friendly ant control that’s made for the kinds of pest problems we see in Chandler, Phoenix, Mesa, Gilbert, and the surrounding areas.
Contact us now to schedule your free inspection.
We’ll follow up with a call and get you the help you need to stay pest-free, year-round.
21 years of pest control experience
Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
13 year resident of Arizona
