Ants are mysterious pests. It is easy to understand why so many Illinois homeowners get frustrated by them. They can come out of nowhere, mobilize in a matter of minutes, and keep coming no matter what you throw at them. Let's take a look at some of the things homeowners try that should get rid of ants but end up falling short.
Ant Bait — You would think that this would be the perfect solution, and it is. Professionals use bait to solve ant problems all the time. The problem is, it isn't a simple matter of selecting a bait, setting some traps, and calling it a day. When homeowners attempt to get rid of ants with bait, it often leads to frustration.
Ant Spray — This should work. There are hundreds of ant sprays available for purchase. If it didn't work, those companies would go out of business, wouldn't they? The problem is, spray can seem to work. You can spray some ants and kill them. But, don't be surprised when more ants come the next day and the next day after that. Spraying doesn't address the colony that sent those ants and it can cause a colony to split into two or more colonies when ant workers sense danger, making your problem worse.
Natural Ant Control — There are many natural ways to kill ants or clean them up when they get in but, like ant spray, they don't address the colonies sending ants into your home. This leads to ongoing frustration or worse.
Ant Threats
There are three ways ants can be a threat. They can spread harmful bacteria around, they can sting, and they can damage the wood inside a home. All ants can do the first, but only a handful are known for spreading bacteria. Top of the list is pharaoh ants, which commonly spread salmonella, staphylococcus, clostridium, and streptococcus. The ants that sting us are fire ants and, for some people, a sting from a fire ant can cause a serious allergic reaction. The ants that damage the wood inside homes are called carpenter ants. All ants can be a threat. That is you mustn't fight ants alone. When you invest in professional ant control, you get real results.
What You Can Do About Ants
There are many things you can do to resist ants and reduce ant populations around your home. Here are some tips:
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Many ants are drawn to moisture. Everything you do to control moisture around your home will have an impact on ant populations. Clean your gutters routinely. Trim tree branches to allow sunlight to dry areas that get too much shade. Trim bushes to allow better airflow in your landscaping.
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When ants come near your home, and they will, they mustn't find a way in. Check your foundation wall for cracks and seal them up. Seal gaps, holes, and cracks around door and window frames. Seal gaps around pipes.
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If you have bird feeders, move them at least 20 feet away from your home. Ants will eat the birdseed that falls to the ground, and also climb up to the feeders to get the seed. Hummingbird feeders are of particular interest. The sugary liquid in hummingbird feeders is a treat for ants. Don't be surprised when you see ants crawling up and down on the string that holds your hummingbird feeder.
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Routinely clean your trash receptacles to reduce smells that attract ants.
What A Professional Can Do About Ants
The pest control professionals at Action Pest Control know the different types of ants that can get into your Illinois home and they know what treatment methods work for each. Our residential pest control program gives coverage for the most common ant pests such as pavement ants, odorous house ants, and carpenter ants. We use a mixture of bait formulations and residual products that are undetectable to ants. These work to address the colonies around your home, not just the ants that are getting in. This breaks the cycle of infestation.
If you have questions about ants in Illinois or you'd like to schedule to meet with one of our pest control professionals, drop us a line. Where here to help.
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