Leafcutter Ant Control
Schedule An Inspection!
Click To Contact
Leafcutter Ant Extermination Services
Stride Pest Control provides leafcutter ant control for homes and businesses across Central Texas, where the Texas leafcutting ant strips leaves from plants and trees to grow the fungus it feeds on. Leafcutter ants are hard to control on your own because their colonies run deep underground, hold millions of ants, and can defoliate a plant overnight.
Stride treats leafcutter ants through the Stride Forward integrated pest management process, which for this species means locating the large underground colony and using baits designed for the way leafcutters forage, since the surface trails lead back to a nest that spot treatments cannot reach.
Every treatment is backed by a same-day service option and a satisfaction guarantee, and the products we use are odorless and colorless once dry. Leafcutter ants are one of several ant species Stride treats, covered under our broader ant control and general pest control services.
Leafcutter Ants In Central Texas
Leafcutter ants, also called Texas leafcutting ants or town ants, are unlike any other ant here, because they farm rather than forage for food.
| Trait | Leafcutter Ant |
|---|---|
| Also called | Texas leafcutting ant, or town ant |
| What they do | Cut and carry pieces of leaves underground to grow fungus for food |
| Colonies | Massive underground nests with many entrance craters, holding millions |
| The damage | Can strip a plant, shrub, or young tree of its leaves overnight |
| Trails | Long, cleared foraging trails leading to and from the colony |
| What they don’t do | They do not eat the leaves or sting; the leaves feed their fungus |
Because the colony sits deep underground and holds millions of ants, reaching it takes baits placed on the foraging trails rather than surface sprays.
Signs You Have Leafcutter Ants
Leafcutter ants leave dramatic and unmistakable signs:
- Lines of ants carrying green leaf fragments like tiny sails.
- Plants or trees stripped of leaves overnight.
- Crater-like mounds with many entrance holes.
- Long, cleared foraging trails running across the yard.
- Damage to gardens, ornamentals, and young trees.
Are Leafcutter Ants Dangerous?
Leafcutter ants are not a threat to people. They do not sting or spread disease, and they are not an indoor pest. The danger they pose is to landscaping.
A colony can defoliate gardens, ornamentals, and young trees with remarkable speed, and the large underground nests undermine soil and can damage roots. For a property with valued plants, they are a serious landscape pest, even though they leave people alone.
How We Get Rid of Leafcutter Ants
Stride treats leafcutter ants through the five-step Stride Forward process, aimed at the underground colony:
- Inspect. We locate the colony craters and foraging trails and assess the plant damage.
- Identify. We confirm the Texas leafcutting ant and trace the trails back toward the nest.
- Recommend. We help protect vulnerable plants and pinpoint the main nest.
- Treat. We place baits formulated for leafcutter ants on their foraging trails, which they carry down into the colony to reach the nest.
- Evaluate. We follow up, since these very large colonies can require more than one round of baiting.
Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.
How to Keep Leafcutter Ants Away
Keeping leafcutter ants in check comes down to early action:
- Bait early as soon as foraging trails appear.
- Protect vulnerable young plants and new ornamentals.
- Monitor for craters and trails across the property.
- Address a colony before it grows, since large nests are far harder to control.
- Keep landscaping checked during the active foraging seasons.
Leafcutter Ant Control Frequently Asked Questions
Why are ants carrying leaves across my yard?
Leafcutter ants cut and carry leaf pieces underground to grow a fungus that they eat. They farm that fungus rather than eating the leaves directly, which is why you see them hauling green fragments in long lines.
Can leafcutter ants really strip a plant overnight?
Yes. A large colony sends out enormous numbers of foragers and can defoliate a shrub or young tree in a single night, which is what makes them such a serious landscape pest.
Do leafcutter ants sting or come indoors?
No. They do not sting and are not an indoor pest. The entire problem is the damage they do to plants and trees outdoors.
Why are leafcutter ants so hard to control?
The colony runs deep underground and can hold millions of ants. Reaching it takes baits placed on the foraging trails that the ants carry down to the nest, since surface sprays never touch the colony.
THE STRIDE FORWARD PROGRAM
Our Strategic ECO-BASED Protocol
Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.
The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.
Our Certifications & Awards
Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.
Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.
Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.
Customer Testimonials
Danielle N.
Google Reviewer
Stacey L.
Google Local Guide
John N.
Google Local Guide
Stride Pest Control received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
based on 2,400+ reviews.
Ready For FastSafeReliable Pest Control?
You do not have to live with pests. Stride Pest Control offers same-day service across Central Texas with a satisfaction guarantee on every treatment.
4.9 stars across 2,400+ reviews | QualityPro certified | Satisfaction guaranteed