Because they are attracted to all kinds of food items, these ants often get into area kitchens to search for something to eat. They will consume everything from meat to pet food to sugary drinks, and they are even attracted to small crumbs and spills.
In this guide, you’ll learn about the issues these ants can bring and also get some practical prevention tips to keep them away.
Are Sugar Ants Dangerous To People?
Luckily, most sugar ant species in Chicago aren’t dangerous. Species such as pavement ants are relatively harmless, but they are still quite invasive. The pavement ant is one of the most prevalent sugar ant species and usually lives near sidewalks in small dirt piles. They are dark brown or black.
However, one sugar ant species is dangerous. The Pharaoh ant is a yellow-brown ant known to transmit different kinds of bacteria and pathogens that can cause diseases such as salmonellosis. These ants can invade homes and businesses, and they are even known for getting into hospitals and crowding around IVs and wounds of patients.
These ants are highly unsanitary, so if they come inside your house, you will need to throw out any food they get into and sanitize any surfaces they touch.
How Can You Remove Sugar Ants?
Because sugar ants can quickly become widespread throughout a property, the simplest and most effective way to remove them is with assistance from the experts at Aerex Pest Control. Our trained technicians will remove both harmless and dangerous sugar ant species.
Next, we provide ongoing treatment plans to keep these ants from coming back around. To get started and learn more about our customizable options, give us a call today or send us a message online.
Seven Tips To Prevent Sugar Ants In The Future
The best way to control ants is with professional assistance, but you can also take some steps to make your property less attractive to ants in general. This way, you’ll have the best chances of deterring ants in the future.
These seven tips will help prevent both sugar ants and other insects in the area:
- Make it more difficult for ants to get inside by sealing up holes in the walls and foundation of your house.
- Focus on keeping your kitchens extra clean by doing dirty dishes often and keeping floors swept and mopped.
- Always wipe up food and drink spills right away.
- If you have pets, keep their food stored in airtight containers.
- Place secure lids on all garbage cans both inside and outside of the property.
- Install door sweeps and weather stripping around doors and windows.
- Reduce moisture around the property by fixing any leaky pipes or faucets.
If, despite your best efforts, you are seeing sugar ants in your Chicago home, don't hesitate to call the professionals at Aerex Pest Control.