Field Ant Control in Kansas City

They are similar in size and color, which is why people worry. Field ants nest in soil and build mounds; carpenter ants nest in wood and leave sawdust-like debris. Seen from the side, a field ant's thorax has a dip in it, while a carpenter ant's is smoothly arched.

If you are seeing large ants indoors in late winter or spring, that is more likely carpenter ants. Send a photo and we'll tell you which.

Mounds well out in the lawn usually don't need treatment. Mounds against the foundation, in a patio joint or under a walkway get treated at the mound, and we check where foragers are getting inside.

Field ants are most active from April through October. They sometimes forage indoors for sweets, but they do not nest inside homes.

Rake out mounds far from the house. Keep mulch thin and pulled back from the foundation so colonies don't settle right against it. Seal the gaps under door thresholds where foragers come in.