Ants are quiet through a Salt Lake City winter, but they wake up as soon as the soil warms. By April, small mounds of fine sand appear along sidewalk cracks and driveway edges, and by June a trail of tiny ants may be crossing a kitchen counter. The city's dry climate means ants often target any source of moisture or sweetness in or around the house. A licensed provider can identify what you have and tailor the plan; call (844) 725-1661 to be connected. PestMinistry is a referral service rather than a pest control company.
Ants you will likely see in Salt Lake City
- Pavement ants: dark brown, with parallel lines on the head, nesting under concrete, patios and foundations and leaving small piles of excavated soil.
- Odorous house ants: brown to black, they smell like rotten coconut when crushed and trail to sweet foods and honeydew.
- Carpenter ants: the large black ants that excavate moist wood in porches, window frames and the structural wood of older homes.
- Field and thatching ants: reddish and black, building domed mounds in lawns and foothill areas, mostly a yard nuisance.
- Pharaoh ants: tiny, yellow and hard to eliminate; they settle in warm interior walls in apartment and commercial buildings.
Why ants here are tied to water
Salt Lake City receives limited rainfall, so dry spells in summer drive colonies to irrigation lines, bird baths and the damp zones created by lawn sprinklers. In older neighborhoods such as the Avenues and Yalecrest, mature trees shed sap and host aphids, which produce the sweet honeydew that many ants collect. Wood damaged by leaking gutters or roofs can attract carpenter ants, especially in wetter spring months.
Treatment that targets the colony
- Identify the ant: size, color and trail behavior say a lot about where and what to treat.
- Locate the nest or trail source: under pavers, in a rotted window sill, within a wall void or in a landscape bed.
- Bait selectively: sweet baits for odorous and pavement ants, protein or grease-based baits for others.
- Exterior treatment: a barrier along foundations, door thresholds and window frames.
- Repair and follow-up: replacing damaged wood, sealing entry cracks and checking back after a couple of weeks.
Sprays alone often split colonies into multiple groups, so professionals prefer methods that let workers carry material back.
Steps that help
- Clean spills and store sweets, honey and syrup in sealed containers.
- Rinse recyclables and keep trash lids closed.
- Trim vegetation that touches siding or roofing.
- Fix leaking spigots and direct sprinkler spray away from the foundation.
- Pull mulch back a few inches from the wall.
- Seal cracks around windows, doors and utility lines.
FAQs about ants in Salt Lake City
Do ants come inside to escape the cold?
Some, such as carpenter ants and pharaoh ants, can nest in heated buildings during winter. Most ants indoors in summer, however, are foraging for food and water.
Is the sand on my driveway from ants?
Fine piles in pavement cracks usually are, and indicate pavement ant nests underneath.
Should I be worried about carpenter ants?
They are worth taking seriously. They do not eat wood, but their tunnels can weaken it, especially if moisture is present.
What happens when I call?
Dial (844) 725-1661, describe the ants, and we will refer you to a licensed Salt Lake City provider.