ANT
Several types of ants are commonly found around homes in the area, including Argentine ants, pavement ants, and fire ants. Each species behaves slightly differently, but all can become persistent pests when colonies establish themselves near structures. Ants are one of the most common pests found around homes in the desert Southwest and can quickly become a problem both outdoors and indoors. While they often appear to be coming from a single mound or entry point, most ant colonies are much larger than they seem and use multiple mounds. Ant colonies are controlled by a queen that produces the rest of the colony. For ant control to be successful, the queen must be eliminated, otherwise the colony will continue to reproduce.
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Ants are extremely sensitive to many chemicals, which is why over-the-counter sprays and DIY treatments often make the problem worse. When ants detect unwanted chemicals, or even spices, they may abandon the visible mound and relocate to another area nearby. In some cases the colony can even split into multiple colonies, a process known as budding, which can not only double the ant problem, but cause what was originally an outdoor ant problem to spread to other areas of the yard or even inside the home. Because of this behavior, it is extremely important not to self-treat ants yourself if you plan to hire a professional, as improper treatment can make colonies harder for technicians to locate and eliminate.
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Ants are also commonly attracted to food (including pet food), pet waste, and certain weeds that produce sweet sap or nectar, such as spurge, which is very common in desert landscapes. Keeping food, pet droppings and weeds to a minimum in and around the home can help reduce food sources that attract ants to the property. Proper ant control focuses on targeting the colony and eliminating the queen, rather than simply killing the ants that are visible.