Total Ant Prevention For Chicago Residents

Ants may not seem like much of a threat or nuisance, but if they’re in your Chicago home, they can cause significant problems. Here’s what Chicago homeowners should know about the types of ants you may find in your home, which ones bite, and how to prevent them or get rid of them quickly if you do have them. 

How Can I Tell What Type Of Ants Are On My Chicago Property?

The first step to ant prevention is identifying the types of ants on your Chicago property. Some of the most common kinds of ants you may encounter include:

Argentine ants: With dark brown to shiny black coloring, Argentine ants can live beneath sidewalks or inside homes as long as they have a food source. Their colonies are known for growing quite large, so these ants can quickly become a big nuisance. 

Carpenter ants: Their coloring can range from red to black, and carpenter ants prefer to feed on water-damaged wood. Over time, these ants can cause a lot of structural damage if the infestation goes untreated.

Odorous house ants: Odorous house ants have a big sweet tooth, and they get their name from the rotten coconut-like odor that they emit when they’re crushed.

Pharaoh ants: With yellow coloring, Pharaoh ants are easy to identify, but they’re not just a nuisance-they can also spread bacteria and may contaminate your home or other buildings.

Small honey ants: These small ants tend to live in small colonies and are usually more active in the colder months. While you may find them outside, but these ants can also nest indoors. 

Ant Prevention Tips For Chicago Homes

Ants can be a major nuisance once an infestation takes root in your Chicago home, so how can you prevent them? Here are some quick tips to reduce the risk of ants in your Chicago home:

• Keep your food in sealed containers: Leaving out leftovers can lure ants in, so you’ll want to make sure you’re keeping any food items in sealed packages or containers.

• Clean up after dirty dishes: Dirty dishes contain food particles, and if they’re left in your sink long enough, they will attract ants. If you dirty any dishes, try to wash them as soon as possible and avoid leaving them overnight.

• Wipe up spills and other scraps: Spills, especially sugary beverages, can be a big ant attraction. After meals or spills, ensure you’re wiping them up and leaving no crumbs or residue behind.

• Don’t let your trash overflow: If they can’t get to your leftovers, the ants in your home may turn to your trash. Take your trash out regularly and keep a tight lid on both indoor and outdoor trashcans.

• Close up cracks and crevices in your home: Ants only need small cracks and crevices to get inside your home, but using foam, caulk, or another type of sealant can block off these entrances. 

Which Ants In Chicago Bite?

You may not hear much about ant bites, but there are a few species in Chicago that can bite – such as carpenter ants. However, carpenter ants are not aggressive and usually only bite if they feel threatened or cornered. Their bites may cause mild irritation or swelling like a bug bite, but they are not considered medically dangerous.  Even if carpenter ants are the only species capable of biting, other species, like pharaoh ants, can still cause harm by contaminating your home with dangerous bacteria. 

You may hear someone talk about being bitten by a fire ant, but this bite is much more likely a sting. Fire ant stings are extremely painful and can cause issues for those who are allergic to fire ant venom or those who are stung repeatedly. However, these stings do not generally require medical attention. 

How Do I Get Rid Of Ants On My Chicago Property?

Whether you’ve found destructive carpenter ants eating water-damaged wood on your property or odorous house ants trying to find your sweets, there’s only one effective solution to getting rid of ants in Chicago, and that’s with Aerex Pest Control.  With reliable, effective treatments that will get the job done, we’ve been a trusted choice for the Chicago area and surrounding counties for more than seventy years. If you’re spotting ants in your Chicago home, there’s more than likely an infestation. Don’t wait to call us at Aerex Pest Control to schedule an inspection or learn more about our ant control services.