Trusted extermination services to keep your home, business, and customers pest-free
You’ve got a line of ants marching across your kitchen counter. You spray them. They die. Tomorrow, there’s another line in a different spot. Next week, they’re in the bathroom. The month after, they’re in the bedroom.
Here’s why: You’re killing workers, but the colony is still alive somewhere—in your walls, under your foundation, in the yard, maybe even in a neighboring unit. Until the colony is eliminated, ants will keep coming back.
Effective ant control requires species identification (different ants need different treatments), locating the colony, and eliminating it at the source. That’s what we do.
Tired of fighting ants? Call +1 (347) 210-4646 or request service online. We’ll identify the species, locate the colony, and eliminate it for good.
Common Ant Species in NYC
What they look like: Small (1/8 inch), dark brown to black, parallel grooves on head and thorax. These are the most common ants in NYC.
Where they nest: Under pavement, concrete slabs, foundation stones, along sidewalk cracks, in brick mortar, beneath basement floors. They create small dirt mounds at pavement edges and cracks.
Why they’re inside: Foraging for food, especially sweets and greasy foods. They follow chemical trails through cracks in foundations, gaps around pipes, and spaces under doors. Peak activity in spring and early summer.
How we treat them: Perimeter barrier treatments, crack-and-crevice applications at entry points, exterior colony treatments, non-repellent sprays that workers carry back to the colony, exclusion recommendations.
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.)
What they look like: Large (¼-½ inch), black or black-and-red, single node on waist. The big ants you see, often at night.
Where they nest: Inside wood—especially moist, damaged, or decaying wood. They excavate galleries in wall voids, structural timbers, hollow doors, window frames, and foam insulation. They don’t eat wood (like termites), but they hollow it out for nesting.
Why they’re inside: Attracted to moisture-damaged wood from roof leaks, plumbing leaks, poor drainage, or condensation. They also forage for food, especially proteins and sweets. Satellite colonies form in dry wood connected to main outdoor colonies.
How we treat them: Locate and treat colonies directly (often requires drilling and void treatments), eliminate moisture sources, remove damaged wood, apply targeted baits and non-repellent sprays, treat outdoor parent colonies if accessible, exclusion work to prevent re-entry.
Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonis)
What they look like: Tiny (1/16 inch), pale yellow to light brown with darker abdomen tip. These are the smallest common indoor ants in NYC.
Where they nest: Exclusively indoors in warm areas—inside wall voids, behind baseboards, inside electrical outlets, beneath floors, in furniture, even inside folded linens. Colonies are huge (thousands to hundreds of thousands) with multiple queens.
Why they’re a nightmare: They’re nearly impossible to eliminate without professional help. Colonies “bud”—when threatened, they split into multiple new colonies. Repellent sprays make infestations worse by causing budding. They contaminate sterile medical supplies and are major pests in hospitals.
How we treat them: Non-repellent baits only (sprays cause budding), multiple bait stations throughout the property, bait rotation to prevent aversion, treatment over 4-8 weeks with follow-ups, coordination with neighbors in multi-unit buildings (they travel through walls).
Odorous House Ants (Tapinoma sessile)
What they look like: Small (1/8 inch), dark brown to black, emit a rotten coconut smell when crushed (hence the name).
Where they nest: Outdoors under mulch, stones, logs, debris. Indoors near moisture sources—inside wall voids near leaky pipes, under sinks, in crawlspaces, behind dishwashers.
Why they’re inside: Foraging for sweets, especially honeydew from aphids. They move colonies frequently, especially after rain or when disturbed. They form supercolonies with multiple queens and interconnected nests.
How we treat them: Perimeter barrier treatments, locate and treat outdoor nests, moisture elimination, crack-and-crevice applications, non-repellent products (they’re sensitive to repellents and will relocate), exclusion work.
Why NYC Has Ant Problems
Urban landscaping provides nesting sites – Mulch beds, tree pits, sidewalk cracks, foundation gaps, retaining walls—NYC’s urban landscape creates countless ant nesting sites right against buildings. Pavement ants especially thrive in the concrete jungle.
Moisture issues in older buildings – Carpenter ants are attracted to moisture-damaged wood. Many NYC buildings have chronic roof leaks, plumbing issues, poor drainage, and condensation problems that create perfect carpenter ant habitat.
Connected multi-unit housing – Pharaoh ants and other indoor species travel through shared walls, plumbing chases, and electrical conduits. Treat one apartment, but if neighbors have colonies, ants will reappear. Building-wide coordination is often necessary.
Year-round warmth indoors – Heated buildings keep indoor ant species active year-round. Pharaoh ants especially thrive in constant warmth, breeding continuously without seasonal slowdown.
Abundant food sources everywhere – Restaurants, food vendors, garbage rooms, sidewalk trash—NYC provides unlimited ant food. Even clean homes have accessible food if ants can find entry points.
Spring and summer swarms – Outdoor ant colonies produce winged reproductives (swarmers) in spring and early summer. These can be mistaken for termites. If you see winged ants indoors, there’s likely a colony inside your walls.
Construction disturbs existing colonies – Renovation, excavation, and landscaping work disrupts ant colonies, causing them to relocate into buildings. Construction also creates new entry points and disturbed soil perfect for nest establishment.
Our Ant Control Process
We identify which ant species you’re dealing with. This is critical—carpenter ants need wood treatment, pharaoh ants require specialized baiting, pavement ants need exterior control. Wrong identification means wrong treatment.
We locate foraging trails, entry points, nesting areas (if accessible), moisture problems, and food sources. We assess infestation severity and explain what’s causing the problem and where the colony likely is.
Based on species identification and colony location, we develop a targeted plan:
For pavement/odorous house ants:
For carpenter ants:
For pharaoh ants:
We apply treatments where ants actually live and travel—not just where you see them.
Interior treatments:
Exterior treatments:
Exclusion recommendations:
Most ant problems require follow-up visits. Pharaoh ants need 4-8 weeks of continuous baiting. Carpenter ants often have satellite colonies that appear after initial treatment. Outdoor ants may require seasonal retreatment.
We return to:
Once the colony is eliminated, we help you keep ants from returning:
How Long Does Ant Control Take?
Pavement/Odorous House Ants:
Carpenter Ants:
Pharaoh Ants:
Timeline depends on species, colony size, accessibility, building conditions, and whether contributing factors (moisture, entry points, neighboring colonies) are addressed.
Warning Signs You Have Ants
Visible ant trails:
Finding ants in unusual places:
Winged ants (swarmers):
Sawdust or wood shavings:
Rustling sounds in walls:
Seeing ants carry dead ants:
If you’re seeing these signs, you have an established colony that needs professional treatment.
Why DIY Ant Control Usually Fails
Wrong product for the species – Over-the-counter ant sprays are repellent products. They work on some ant species but make pharaoh ant infestations worse by causing colony budding. Pavement ants just avoid treated areas and find new entry points.
Killing foragers doesn’t eliminate the colony – The ants you see are foragers—expendable workers collecting food. The queen(s) and thousands more workers remain in the nest, continuing to produce more ants. You’re fighting symptoms, not the source.
Store-bought baits are often ineffective – Consumer baits use outdated formulations. Professional baits are more palatable, use non-repellent actives, and are rotated to prevent bait aversion. Pharaoh ants especially become bait-averse quickly.
Can’t access where ants actually nest – Carpenter ants nest inside walls. Pharaoh ants nest in wall voids and electrical boxes. Pavement ants nest under concrete slabs. You can’t reach these with surface sprays or bait stations placed on counters.
No species identification – Most people can’t identify ant species. You might treat for pavement ants when you actually have carpenter ants damaging your structure. Wrong diagnosis means wrong treatment.
Missing the outdoor source – Many indoor ant problems originate from outdoor colonies. Treating inside without addressing the outdoor colony means ants keep coming back as soon as interior treatments wear off.
Ant Prevention After Treatment
Eliminate food sources:
Remove moisture attractions:
Seal entry points:
Maintain the exterior:
Monitor for new activity:
In multi-unit buildings, work with neighbors and building management. Your unit can be ant-free, but if colonies exist in neighboring units, eventually they’ll find their way to you.
Carpenter Ants vs. Termites: Know the Difference
Carpenter Ants:
Termites:
If you see large black ants and suspect structural damage, you might have carpenter ants. If you see mud tubes or pale insects in damaged wood, you likely have termites. Both require professional treatment, but they’re treated differently.
Get Professional Ant Control
Here’s the deal: Ants don’t leave on their own. The colony grows larger, produces more workers, and eventually creates satellite colonies throughout your property. What starts as a few ants in the kitchen becomes trails in every room.
Professional ant control targets the colony, not just the workers you see. We identify the species, locate the source, and eliminate it properly.
Call us at +1 (347) 210-4646 or request service online. We’ll identify your ant species, locate the colony, and start treatment within a week.
New York Exterminating, Inc.
1115 E 13th St, Brooklyn, NY 11230
Licensed & Certified Since 2010
Ant-free homes start with eliminating the colony, not just the workers.
See how homeowners and businesses rate our pest control services across New York.
Our expertise goes beyond simple extermination. Backed by certified specialists and proven methods, we combine science, precision, and care to deliver pest solutions that last. Every treatment is designed with your safety, comfort, and environment in mind.
Many of our clients have remained with us since 2010, demonstrating strong trust and long-term satisfaction.
Licensed by NYSDEC – Reg. #15140
Serving property managers, senior facilities, shelters, affordable-housing programs, and businesses across NYC since 2010 — many long-term clients trust our work.
Botanical/organic options, German-cockroach elimination and rodent-exclusion programs, full bilingual support (EN/ES), plus a client portal with reports, photos, and chemical logs for total transparency.
NYSDEC Registered — Reg. #15140 — with fully licensed technicians (Jorge Bedoya, Tomas Cusati, Jason Mendoza). We follow all regulations for safe, legal treatments.
Led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (Jorge Bedoya) and technicians trained in urban entomology, we use IPM and proven methods for lasting results.
From first inspection to final follow-up, our science-based process ensures every pest problem is solved with precision, safety, and lasting protection
Find quick answers to common questions about our services, safety practices, and customer support
Yes. We use eco-friendly and low-toxicity treatments designed to protect your family, pets, and the environment.
Yes. We offer bilingual services in English and Spanish to ensure clear communication and support for all our clients across New York City.
We proudly serve all five boroughs of New York City — Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island — as well as surrounding areas.
You can access all your service reports, invoices, and treatment details through our secure online Client Portal. Simply log in anytime to view records, photos, and chemical logs for full transparenc
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