Arlington Ant Control
Eliminate carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and other ant species from your Arlington home with proven non-repellent treatment methods.
Family Owned
57 years of experience serving local homes with pets and kids.
Lower Risk Products
Our research team picked materials better for the planet & your home
No Contracts
We don't lock you in with paperwork. Stay because it works.
Professional Ant Control for Arlington Homes
57 Years Protecting Northern Virginia Families
Arlington's diverse housing stock — from the historic brick colonials of Lyon Village and Ashton Heights to the high-rise condos of Rosslyn and Ballston — creates unique challenges for ant control. The county's mature tree canopy, extensive stream corridors along Four Mile Run, and humid subtropical climate produce conditions where ant colonies thrive from early spring through late fall.
Better Termite & Pest Control has been eliminating ants from Arlington homes since 1968. Our ant control approach uses non-repellent products that ants carry back to their colonies, wiping out the entire population rather than just the ones you see. We've removed 9 of the harshest chemicals common in our industry, choosing products like Essentria and Alpine that our research team has thoroughly vetted.
Plans start at $39/month with triannual maintenance visits and unlimited free callbacks. No long-term contracts — cancel anytime with 30-day notice if you're not satisfied.
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Why Arlington Homes Attract Ants
Local Conditions That Draw Ants In
Arlington's humid subtropical climate, with summer highs averaging 88-90°F and roughly 40-45 inches of annual rainfall, creates the moisture ant colonies need. The county's extensive stream network — including Four Mile Run (which drains two-thirds of Arlington), Donaldson Run, and tributaries near Glencarlyn Park — keeps soil and wood consistently damp in nearby neighborhoods like Bluemont, Barcroft, and Columbia Forest.
North Arlington neighborhoods like Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Maywood, and Cherrydale feature homes built between the 1920s and 1950s. These properties often have brick masonry with settlement cracks, aging utility penetrations, and crawlspaces that provide easy entry. Even newer construction in Crystal City and National Landing can experience ant issues, particularly in buildings with ground-floor restaurants and extensive landscaping.
Common Ant Species in Arlington
Carpenter ants are the most concerning species in Arlington. These large black ants don't eat wood like termites, but they excavate it to build their nests, potentially causing structural damage over time. Odorous house ants are the small black ants that invade kitchens, attracted by moisture and food scraps. Pavement ants nest under sidewalks and foundations along Arlington Boulevard and Columbia Pike, while acrobat ants often enter through damaged wood or old insulation.
Carpenter Ant Control in Arlington
Protecting Arlington's Older Wood Structures
Carpenter ants pose a particular threat to Arlington's older homes. The brick-and-frame houses in neighborhoods like Westover, Arlington Forest, and Dominion Hills often have original wood framing that's been in place for 70+ years. When moisture intrusion occurs — whether from aging roofs, clogged gutters, or foundation seepage — carpenter ants move in to excavate galleries for their nests.
Signs of carpenter ant activity include sawdust-like frass near wood surfaces, rustling sounds in walls, and the appearance of large black ants (often with wings during spring swarming season, typically April through June in Arlington). Our technicians know where to look, from the aging sills common in Colonial Revival and Foursquare homes to the crawlspaces beneath mid-century ranches along Wilson Boulevard.
Our Carpenter Ant Treatment Approach
We start with a thorough inspection to locate the colony. Carpenter ants often nest in areas with moisture damage, so we'll identify any conducive conditions and provide recommendations. Treatment involves applying non-repellent products to cracks, crevices, and entry points. Because the ants don't detect these products, they carry them back to the colony, eventually eliminating the entire population.
Kitchen Ant Infestations
Eliminating the Small Black Ants in Your Kitchen
If you've seen trails of tiny black ants marching across your kitchen counter or around your sink, you're likely dealing with odorous house ants. These small ants get their name from the rotten coconut smell they produce when crushed. In Arlington's older homes with aging plumbing — common in the 22201, 22205, and 22207 ZIP codes — they find plenty of attractive nesting sites near leaky pipes and damp cabinets.
These ants are particularly common in Arlington neighborhoods with heavy tree cover and mature landscaping, like the areas around Bon Air Park, Potomac Overlook Regional Park, and the stream valleys near Glencarlyn. They nest outdoors in mulch, under stones, and in leaf litter, then forage indoors for food and water.
Long-Term Kitchen Ant Solutions
A single treatment rarely solves odorous house ant problems because these ants have multiple queens and can quickly establish new colonies when disturbed. Our approach combines immediate crack-and-crevice treatment inside your home with a perimeter barrier outside. Triannual maintenance ensures that as one treatment fades (typically after 90 days), new protection is already in place.
Odorous house ants nest in mulch and bark, then forage indoors for food
Our technicians create a protective barrier around your home's foundation
Odorous house ants are the tiny black ants that invade Arlington kitchens
Family-owned and serving Arlington since 1968
Large carpenter ants can cause structural damage to older Arlington homes
57 years of experience protecting Northern Virginia homes
What to Expect From Your Ant Treatment
Interior Inspection & Treatment
Our licensed technicians begin inside your Arlington home, focusing on areas where ant activity has been observed or is likely to occur. This includes kitchens, bathrooms, pantries, and basements. In older properties, we pay special attention to areas around aging plumbing and utility penetrations where moisture draws ants in.
We trace ant trails back to entry points — cracks in walls, gaps around pipes, voids behind cabinets. A crack-and-crevice treatment using non-repellent product targets these areas without disrupting your daily life.
Exterior Perimeter Protection
Next, we inspect the exterior of your home, focusing on the foundation and perimeter. We look for ant nests in mulch beds, under pavers, and along foundation walls. A perimeter treatment creates a barrier around your structure to prevent new ants from entering. We'll also flag conducive conditions — areas of wood rot, improper grading, or clogged gutters that create the moisture ants need — and advise on addressing them.
Spring Ant Swarms in Arlington
Why Ants Are Our Most Common Spring Call
Every spring, typically from late March through June, Arlington homeowners see winged ants emerging inside their homes. These swarmers are reproductive ants leaving an established colony to start new ones. If you're seeing winged ants indoors, it means there's an active colony living in your walls, attic, or crawlspace.
Carpenter ant swarms are especially common in Arlington's tree-heavy neighborhoods like Donaldson Run, Williamsburg, and the areas surrounding Lubber Run Park. The combination of old-growth trees, aging homes, and spring moisture creates the conditions for colonies that have been building for years to send out swarmers.
Don't Wait for Swarm Season
The best time to address an ant problem is before swarm season starts. A proactive treatment in late winter or early spring can prevent the disruption and damage that comes with an active infestation. If you're already seeing swarmers, call us at 703-683-2000 — we'll schedule a technician to inspect your home and begin treatment quickly.
What Arlington Neighbors Say
1,100+ 5 Star Reviews on Google "Over the years, they've also tackled ants, bees, and HORRIBLE paper wasps! Further, Cindy and Darren are awesome to work with, and really know their stuff! I can't recommend this company enough."
"Daren did an outstanding job conducting my termite inspection today. He was right on time and extremely professional thorough throughout the entire process. I did not have any problems, and he was very good with some solid advice about how to continue to guard against not only termites but other rodents as well. Cindy also expertly took care of me throughout the process."
"Better Termite has been keeping our house bug free for years with regular perimeter treatments. As a small, family owned business, they are able to personalize their approach based on your needs. It's clear that they prioritize customer service and communication. We recently had a swarm of a stinging insect take shelter under our ground-level deck, and they researched, bought necessary equipment, and came up with the best way to treat it. Highly recommend!"
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"I signed up for a plan and have been truly happy with it. This company is highly professional and very responsive. When I saw fence damage from a carpenter bee, they came out quickly to address the issue right away! Accolades to Cindy the dispatcher, and all the technicians from Juan to Daren to Fredie. I appreciate your service!"
"Over the years, they've also tackled ants, bees, and HORRIBLE paper wasps! Further, Cindy and Darren are awesome to work with, and really know their stuff! I can't recommend this company enough."
"Daren did an outstanding job conducting my termite inspection today. He was right on time and extremely professional thorough throughout the entire process. I did not have any problems, and he was very good with some solid advice about how to continue to guard against not only termites but other rodents as well. Cindy also expertly took care of me throughout the process."
"Better Termite has been keeping our house bug free for years with regular perimeter treatments. As a small, family owned business, they are able to personalize their approach based on your needs. It's clear that they prioritize customer service and communication. We recently had a swarm of a stinging insect take shelter under our ground-level deck, and they researched, bought necessary equipment, and came up with the best way to treat it. Highly recommend!"
"I highly recommend this company for your home pest control. Their technicians are thorough and have prevented any unwanted problems from happening on our property. During our last treatment, Jasmine took care of our outdoor spider webs without us even asking. Last summer they removed a mud dauber's nest under our deck and above our patio door. That attention to detail speaks volumes. Thank you for taking care of us!"
"I signed up for a plan and have been truly happy with it. This company is highly professional and very responsive. When I saw fence damage from a carpenter bee, they came out quickly to address the issue right away! Accolades to Cindy the dispatcher, and all the technicians from Juan to Daren to Fredie. I appreciate your service!"
Our Ant Control Process
Thorough Inspection
Our technicians inspect your Arlington home's interior and exterior, identifying ant trails, nests, and entry points in walls, foundations, and around pipes.
Non-Repellent Treatment
We apply non-repellent products that ants carry back to their colonies, eliminating the entire population rather than just repelling them.
Perimeter Protection
A protective barrier around your foundation prevents new ant colonies from entering your home.
Triannual Maintenance
Most ant treatments last around 90-120 days. Our triannual visits ensure continuous protection throughout the year.
Free Callbacks
If ants return between visits, we'll retreat your home at no extra cost. It's included with your plan.
Serving All Arlington Neighborhoods
From Clarendon to Crystal City, we're your local ant control experts