Ant Control in California & Nevada
Getting rid of ants means finding the species, baiting the colony at its source, and sealing the gaps where ants get inside. A spray on the trail kills the ants you see and almost none of the ones you do not. In California and western Nevada, the ants streaming across your counter are almost always Argentine ants, and a few scouts can become trails coming from every direction within a day. Since 1950, Clark Pest Control has treated ant problems across California and Nevada with a free inspection, treatment matched to the species, and a satisfaction guarantee.
Schedule a free ant inspection or call (800) 882-0374.
How to Tell What Kind of Ants You Have
Identifying the ant matters more than it sounds. What wipes out one species can scatter another into new nests and make the problem worse, so the first thing your technician does is confirm what you have.
In and around California homes, the usual culprit is the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), the most common house and garden ant in the state. Workers are tiny, about 1/16 inch, light to dark brown, with a single-segment waist and no stinger, though they can bite. Crush one and you get a faint musty smell. They follow pheromone trails along baseboards, foundations, and counters, and they nest outdoors near moisture: under sidewalks, in potted plants, and near sprinklers and plumbing.
Argentine ants are hard to clear because of how they organize. Their colonies hold many queens and cooperate instead of fighting, linking into supercolonies that can run for miles. One in California is estimated to stretch from San Francisco to San Diego. Workers forage up to 200 feet from the nest and use tree branches and utility lines as bridges into the house.
Not every ant is an Argentine ant, and the right treatment depends on the species. These are the other ants we treat most across California and Nevada:
- Carpenter ants tunnel into damp or damaged wood and are the one group that can weaken a structure.
- Fire ants sting, and nest in sunny soil and along foundations.
- Odorous house ants give off a coconut-like smell when crushed and trail indoors for sweets.
- Pavement ants nest under sidewalks, driveways, and slabs.
- Pharaoh ants are tiny indoor nesters that scatter if you spray them, so they need careful baiting.
Still not sure what you have? See our Argentine ant profile and the full pest glossary, or UC IPM's guide to household ants in California. Your technician confirms the species during the inspection.
Sudden invasions usually track the weather. A heat wave or dry spell drives thirsty ants toward the water in your kitchen and bathroom, and a few days of heavy rain flood their shallow nests and push them indoors looking for dry ground.
Get Rid of Ants Fast
Professional pest control for ants works best as part of Clark's ongoing residential service, which treats the colony at the source and keeps new ones from moving in. Here is what we do:
- Free inspection to identify the species and map trails, nests, and entry points
- Species-matched baiting that workers carry back to the colony and queens
- Targeted interior treatment where ants are active, such as under sinks and along baseboards
- Exterior treatment around the foundation and known entry points
- A follow-up visit to confirm the colony is knocked down
- Year-Round Pest-Away, our proprietary program for ongoing prevention
Sealing entry points helps a lot. Talk to your Clark Pest Control technician about exclusion options for your home.
Protecting your home from other pests too? See Termite Control, Rodent Control, and Spider Control, or browse all Pest Control Services.
How Our Ant Treatment Works
Spraying the trail you can see is a big reason ant problems come back. Stress a colony with the wrong product and it can split into satellite nests and scatter, leaving you with more trails than you started with. We work the colony instead:
- Free inspection. We confirm the species, follow the trails to nests and entry points, and find the food and water drawing them in.
- Custom plan. Your technician explains what we found and what the treatment will cost before any work starts.
- Treatment. We bait at the colony source, treat the interior spots where ants forage, and treat the exterior where they enter.
- Follow-up. Because baits work through the colony over days, we check back to confirm the ants are gone.
With baiting, it is normal to see ants for a week or two while they carry the bait back to the nest. That is the bait doing its job. Where California's water-quality rules limit outdoor sprays, a bait-led approach is also the more effective one for Argentine ants.
For year-round protection after the colony is cleared, ask about Year-Round Pest-Away. Schedule your free ant inspection.
Why Choose Clark for Ant Control
Argentine ants are a California specialty problem, and Clark has worked them since 1950. We are a licensed, GreenPro-certified ant exterminator, but our technicians lean on integrated pest management, putting the right bait in the right place for the species in your home instead of a one-size spray. Almost every Clark branch has a Board Certified or Associate Certified Entomologist on staff, so a tough or misidentified ant problem gets a real expert on it. Every service is backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
Certifications: GreenPro certified (learn more), Licensed and Insured, IPM-based service
How to Prepare for Your Ant Service
A few small things make treatment more effective. Your technician gives you a checklist for your home, which usually includes:
- Clear access under sinks and along the baseboards where you see trails
- Wipe up visible trails with soapy water to erase the pheromone scent
- Move pet food bowls and store pet food in a sealed container
- Note where and when you see the heaviest activity so we can target it
One important thing: do not spray store-bought ant killer before we arrive. Most over-the-counter sprays are repellents that scatter the colony into new nests and make professional baiting harder. Soapy water on the trail is all you need in the meantime.
How to Prevent Ants
You will not eliminate every ant in the yard, and you do not need to. The goal is to keep them outside. These steps lower your risk:
- Seal cracks and gaps around foundations, windows, doors, and where pipes and wires enter
- Fix leaks, dripping faucets, and sprinkler overspray, since Argentine ants follow moisture
- Store food in sealed containers and clean up sweet spills quickly
- Trim tree and shrub branches that touch the house and give ants a bridge inside
- Manage aphids and scale on plants near the house, because ants farm them for honeydew
- Keep firewood, mulch, and debris away from the foundation
Pair these habits with Year-Round Pest-Away for ongoing protection.
Where We Provide Ant Control
We treat ants for homes and businesses across California and Nevada through 30+ local branches. Argentine ants are active statewide and invade on weather swings, so a fast local response keeps a few scouts from becoming a household problem. A few of the areas we cover:
Frequently Asked Questions About Ant Control
Why am I suddenly seeing so many ants?
A few scout ants find food or water, then lay a pheromone trail that the rest of the colony follows, which is why a clean counter can have a full column on it by morning. In California and Nevada these are usually Argentine ants, and the trigger is often the weather: a heat wave sends them looking for water indoors, and heavy rain floods their shallow outdoor nests and pushes them inside.
How fast does ant treatment work?
You will often see fewer ants within a couple of days as foragers die off, but clearing the colony takes longer. Baits work by being carried back to the queens over a week or two, and it is normal to see ants, sometimes more at first, during that window. That activity means the bait is reaching the nest.
Will the ants come back after treatment?
Argentine ants are persistent because their supercolonies are huge, so the realistic goal is keeping them out of your home rather than wiping them off the map. After we clear the colony, our satisfaction guarantee covers retreatment, and Year-Round Pest-Away keeps protection in place so new trails do not get established.
Are ant treatments safe for my family and pets?
Yes. We use integrated pest management and EPA-registered products placed where ants travel, often in cracks, crevices, and bait stations rather than on open surfaces. Your technician gives you any re-entry instructions before the service starts.
How much does ant control cost?
It depends on the ant species, the size of the infestation, and your home, so we do not quote a flat rate sight unseen. We start with a free inspection, then give you a clear price before any work begins.
Can ants damage my house?
Most ants in California are a contamination and nuisance problem rather than a structural one. The exception is carpenter ants, which tunnel galleries into damp or damaged wood and can weaken it over time, so it is worth identifying them early.
Should I spray the ants myself first?
It is better not to. Most store-bought ant sprays are repellents that scatter the colony into new satellite nests, which can turn one trail into several. If you want to do something before we arrive, wipe the trail with soapy water to remove the scent line.
Do I need an ant exterminator, or is regular pest control enough?
For most ant problems you do not need a kill-everything exterminator visit. What clears them for good is a pest professional who finds the colony and treats it at the source, then keeps new ones from moving in. Clark uses integrated pest management and targeted baiting rather than blanket spraying, which works better on California's Argentine ants and is easier on your home.
Do you offer year-round ant prevention?
Yes. Year-Round Pest-Away is our proprietary program that protects your home through every season, with scheduled service to catch new ant activity before it becomes an infestation.
What Our Customers Say
"Have not had one ant problem in the many years of service. They also have covered my home with termite protection policy for over 15 years."
Leslie Duplan, Bakersfield, CA
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed We guarantee your service will be done right every time. If it isn't, let us know, and we will make it right. Return visits are always free on recurring services. |  |
Done with ants marching across your counter? Call (800) 882-0374 or schedule your free ant inspection online. Prefer email? Contact us here.
Last updated: June 2026