Please HELP.. what are they? how can I get rid of them?

[ripley8]

I'm unsure where to post this so please forgive if this is in the wrong area.

**PLEASE HELP!
These little ants have infested my kitchen.
I have tried everything to get rid of them...
I've tried the bay leaves, raid, bug sprays of all kinds, and now 3 different bait traps all with absolutely NO luck at all.
I have no idea why NOTHING seems to work .. its crazy. Even my father has tried to help me get rid of these guys. I do not like to kill ANYTHING, its just against how I think. But I have to get these guys OUT of the kitchen They are beginning to find out how to get in the sugar bowl, the silverware drawer and the dishwasher.. ack.

FIRST-Where collected? USA, Arizona... in the kitchen.

SECOND-Habitat of collection: I have no idea what their hive looks like, cannot find it. But this is the desert (arizona)

THIRD-Coloration, hue and pattern? Please see the Photos provided, they appear BLACK from a distance but the photos show they are dark brownish with some bands and a spade shapted back end... see photos... "Also, shininess, dullness" : shine in the photos..

FOURTH-Distinguishing characteristics, such as one or two segments in waist; location, length and orientation of any spines or bumps on the mid portion of the body or waist; head shape, etc.

FIFTH-Length in millimeters. (Width is also helpful.) approx 2mm length 1mm wide. VERY SMALL (see the photo with the orange Gatorade cap please for size, they are very hard to catch to measure.)

SIXTH-Anything else distinctive, such as odor, behavior, etc: nothing really but they do infest the coffee area the most.. they drink a lot of water, they love the coffee and cream and sugar stains or drops, they also have been looking at fruit juice and even some chip crumbs etc. So its hard to say just what exactly they mainly eat besides sugars.

Here are the photos:

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THANK YOU to anyone who helps!

[Wood~Ant]

Try to find out how and where they are getting into your home, as the nest is likely to be outside rather than indoors. Then keep applying strong disinfectant to destroy their scent trails, or you can use vinegar or bleach.
Ants will invade homes searching for food, but if you can stop their pheromone scent trails then they can be dissuaded from entering your kitchen. 

[Rion Wulfe]

They also seek out water. Making sure you have no exposed food and water for them to get to will greatly help reduce their desire to enter and explore your home. You may have a water leak somewhere where they are accessing it.

[Jonzii]

As already said, the best way is to find where they are accessing your home, which normally isn't too hard to spot if you look around long enough, then getting rid of their scent trails. I have tried lots of things in the past with a couple of our UK species, and had most success using cinnamon powder believe it or not, like the type you would use for cooking.

[ripley8]

ALL of those comments were very helpful!
I was on another forum and I started to believe I'd have to call an exterminator or something
We have looked behind all the appliances to find where they are coming from but no luck.
We cannot look behind the counters as they are attatched to the walls.
So... I don't think we are going to find where they are coming from or find their hive.
But all those tricks to disuade them may work. We will try!!
"Crazy ants" right?