After a spring rain in Arlington, it takes only a day or two for fire ant mounds to dot the lawn, and shortly after that a line of tiny ants appears at the kitchen sink. North Texas has a mild enough climate for ants to stay active through much of the year, and the spreading suburbs give them lawns, mulch and irrigation to thrive.
The common ants of Tarrant County
Red imported fire ants are the best known, building dome-shaped mounds in open, sunny lawns and stinging in numbers. Odorous house ants give off a rotten coconut smell when crushed and trail along counters seeking sweets. Pavement ants nest under driveways, sidewalks and slab edges. Carpenter ants excavate damp or rotting wood and sometimes nest in trees or rotted fence posts. Texas leafcutter ants and pharaoh ants are also reported in the region, though less frequently in homes. Each type calls for its own strategy.
Why Arlington sees so many
Irrigated lawns and drip-watered flower beds give ants dependable moisture, even in dry August. Clay soil shrinks and cracks, creating tunnels for pavement ants beneath slabs and patios. Brick homes with weep holes provide small entrances at the base of walls. In newer subdivisions, fresh sod and disturbed soil attract fire ants that move into the area from neighboring fields. Near Lake Arlington and creek corridors, moist soil also supports carpenter ants and fire ants in the same yard.
How to read the signs
- Mounds of loose soil without a visible hole, typical of fire ants.
- Trails of ants along baseboards, window frames or under the sink.
- Piles of sawdust-like frass, which points to carpenter ants.
- Small soil heaps along cracks in the driveway or patio from pavement ants.
- Swarms of winged ants after rain, which may signal a mature colony.
What professionals do
Identification comes first. For fire ants, a two-step approach is common: broadcast bait across the yard, then individual treatment on mounds near play areas. For odorous house ants and pavement ants, baits placed along trails get carried to the colony, supplemented by a barrier spray around the foundation. For carpenter ants, the technician looks for moisture-damaged wood and parent nests, and may treat wall voids. Ongoing exterior service keeps new foragers out.
What you can do
- Clean spills and crumbs right away, and keep sweet items in sealed containers.
- Trim shrubs and tree limbs away from the house.
- Fix irrigation heads that spray the foundation.
- Seal cracks around windows, pipes and the base of exterior doors.
- Avoid disturbing fire ant mounds with gasoline or hot water, which is risky and rarely effective.
Talk to someone
PestMinistry is a referral service. We connect callers with independent providers; we do not apply treatments. Call (844) 725-1661 and you will be matched with a licensed provider in our network who handles ant problems in Arlington, TX. They will inspect, explain what they find and recommend a plan.
How do I keep fire ants out of my Arlington yard?
Treating the whole lawn with bait at the right time of year, plus mound treatments, tends to work better than treating a single mound.
Why do ants appear after rain?
Wet soil can flood nests and send colonies indoors looking for dry shelter and food.
Are ants in the kitchen a sign of a bigger problem?
Not always, but trails that keep returning suggest a nest nearby. A provider can locate it and remove it.
Can I use natural remedies?
Some, like cleaning with vinegar, may break a trail temporarily, but they rarely eliminate the colony.