How to Get Rid of Ants in Iowa

Updated 2026-10-21 · By Kasey, Waukee, Iowa

If you live in Waukee, Clive, Ankeny or anywhere else around Des Moines, you have probably watched a line of ants march across a kitchen counter at least once. The good news: most ant problems in Iowa homes can be solved without guesswork if you do things in the right order. Iowa State University (ISU) Extension entomologists put it simply: successful ant control starts with identifying the ant, then finding the nest.

This guide walks through that process using ISU Extension's advice, explains why the bait you bought may not be working, and tells you when it makes sense to call a licensed Iowa pest control company instead.

Step 1: Figure out which ant you have

ISU Extension notes that only a small share of the roughly 700 ant species in the U.S. have been documented in Iowa, and only eight kinds are routinely found in or around homes and buildings. ISU's identification guide describes them by size, color and the number of "nodes" (the little bumps in the narrow waist):

• Carpenter ant: the familiar large black ant, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch, one node, evenly rounded back. A smaller carpenter ant species (1/4 to 1/2 inch) is brown with a reddish thorax.
• Field ants: about 3/8 inch, brown to black, with an uneven back profile. These nest in soil, not wood.
• Larger yellow ant: about 1/4 inch, yellow-orange, with very small eyes.
• Odorous house ant: about 1/8 inch, dark brown to black. Crushed workers smell like rotten coconut.
• Thief (grease) ant: tiny, about 1/16 inch, light brown to yellow, two nodes.
• Pavement ant: 1/16 to 1/8 inch, two nodes, with a pair of spines on the thorax and grooved lines on the head.
• Pharaoh ant: about 1/16 inch, light yellowish red, two nodes.

Most of these are hard to tell apart without magnification. ISU suggests a 10X hand lens. If you are stuck, the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic in Ames identifies insects mailed in by Iowans. The clinic asks for several specimens (6 to 12 if possible), killed first (freezing overnight works), packed so they will not be crushed, and sent with its submission form. Check the clinic's page for current forms and fees.

Step 2: Find out whether they are nesting inside or outside

This one observation changes your whole plan. ISU's guidance on odorous house ants is a good rule of thumb for many species:

• A few wingless workers indoors usually means the colony lives outdoors and the ants are coming in to forage for food.
• Winged ants (swarmers) indoors, or workers in large numbers day after day, suggests a nest inside the house.

To find the nest, watch where the ants go. For carpenter ants, ISU recommends checking at night, since they are most active between dusk and dawn. Sticky traps placed along walls can also show where ants are entering and where they are most active.

Step 3: Clean up and cut off the food

Ants come inside for food and water. Before you buy anything:

• Wipe up crumbs, sticky spills and pet food. Store sweets, syrups and pet food in sealed containers.
• Rinse recyclables and take kitchen trash out often.
• Fix leaks and moisture problems. Carpenter ants favor moist, decayed wood, so soft window sills, wet sill plates or leaky decks are worth fixing for their own sake.
• Trim back plants touching the siding. Odorous house ants love the sweet honeydew made by aphids on plants, so a busy aphid population near the foundation can feed a colony.

This step matters even if you plan to use baits, because ISU notes that baits work best where no other food is available to the ants.

Step 4: Use baits and treatments the right way

ISU Extension gives a candid review of the common options:

• Baits are easy to use and reduce how much insecticide you spread around your kitchen. But they often stunt a colony rather than wipe it out, and you may need to keep reapplying. Most store-bought ant baits are sugar-based. That attracts "sweet-feeding" ants like odorous house ants, but ISU says sugar baits will not attract carpenter ants or grease ants. If ants ignore your bait, you may have the wrong bait for your species.
• Place baits close to the ant activity, along their trails, and leave the ants alone while they feed. Keep baits away from children and pets as the label directs.
• Indoor sprays knock down foragers, but ISU warns the effect may be temporary unless the treatment reaches the nest or gets close to it.
• Exterior perimeter treatments can help with ants that live outside and come in to forage, such as carpenter ants. ISU lists thresholds, sills and the gap between siding and foundation as key spots.

Whatever you use, read and follow the label. The U.S. EPA notes every pesticide label carries the statement that using a product inconsistent with its labeling violates federal law. The label tells you where you can use it, how much, and what safety steps to take. We do not recommend specific brands.

Ant hills in the lawn

Mounds in the yard are a different situation. ISU notes the soil-nesting ants found in Iowa are not biting or stinging pests (though some will bite if handled roughly), and fire ants are not present in Iowa. Most lawn ants are beneficial. When a mound sticks up above the grass, ISU suggests raking it flat or washing it out with a strong stream from the hose. That is often needed most during wet spring weather, when ants are busy nesting. Spot treatment with a labeled lawn insecticide is a last resort, not a first step.

When to call a licensed pro

DIY is reasonable for a few foraging ants. Consider a professional when:

• You see carpenter ants inside, especially winged swarmers, or find soft, damaged or moist wood.
• You cannot find the nest, and the ants keep coming back after you have cleaned up and baited properly.
• Ants appear to be nesting inside walls, floors or other voids you cannot reach.
• You are not comfortable reading and following a pesticide label, or you have small children, pets or health concerns that make you want an expert plan.

How to choose a licensed Iowa applicator

Under Iowa's administrative rules, no one may run a business applying pesticides to someone else's property without being licensed and certified by the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. Household pest control is its own certification subcategory: Category 7A, General and Household Pest Control. Before you hire:

1. Ask for the company's Iowa license and the technician's certification.
2. Confirm both with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship lookup tool. You can search by company, applicator name, city or county.
3. Ask which ant they think you have and why. A good pro identifies before treating.

We cover the rest of this checklist in our guide on what to expect from an ant exterminator near Waukee.

Frequently asked questions

Are there fire ants in Iowa?

No. ISU Extension states that fire ants of the southern U.S. are not present in Iowa. The soil-nesting ants in Iowa lawns are not stinging pests, though some may bite in defense if handled.

Why are the ants ignoring my ant bait?

Most retail baits are sugar-based. ISU notes they work for sweet-feeding ants like odorous house ants but do not attract carpenter ants or grease ants. Baits also compete with any crumbs or spills nearby, so clean up first and place bait right on the ant trail.

Will spraying inside my house get rid of ants?

Usually not for long. ISU says indoor sprays reduce the foraging ants you see, but the effect may be temporary unless the treatment reaches the nest. Finding the nest is the key step.

How can I tell carpenter ants from other big black ants?

Carpenter ants have a single node and a smoothly rounded back when viewed from the side, and they nest in moist or decayed wood. Field ants look similar but have an uneven back profile and nest in soil. ISU's identification guide has drawings of both.

Can someone in Iowa identify my ant for me?

Yes. The ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic identifies insects sent in by Iowans. Kill several ants first (freezing works), pack them so they will not be crushed, and include the clinic's form. Check its website for current fees.