Ant Identification & Prevention

Ants are tiny insects living in colonies with a hierarchy consisting of queens, reproductives, and workers. Queens are reproductive females that are usually the largest members of the colony and lay thousands of eggs. In comparison, reproductives are male ants that don't live much longer after mating with the queen. And workers are sterile females that take care of everything else from maintaining the colony, building tunnels, and finding food.

While some ant species can bite and sting, most ants you will experience in your home aren't considered dangerous. However, they can cause contamination and spread salmonellosis and E. coli.

Some species can cause damage to property whether they tunnel through wood or get into electrical appliances.

Ants often infest homes as they search for food sources, making their way through cracks in the foundation and other openings on the exterior.

The ants that infest residential properties gravitate to sugars found in most foods people consume. Some food sources that attract ants include grease, crumbs, garbage, rotting fruit, pet food, and just about anything else you can think of.

When ants infest, they gravitate toward kitchens and eating areas with lots of food sources to take advantage of, but they can also be found in almost every room in a house, especially where the conditions are dark and damp.

Ants can travel through the walls and under flooring to get where they need to go inside.

When you are experiencing an ant infestation, our residential and commercial pest control offerings can help get them under control. We start with a home pest inspection to determine where ants are and how they are getting in.

After the inspection, we will present our findings to you and make recommendations on how to proceed. Treatments will vary depending on your unique problem but can include treating the foundation, pest hot spots, window and door frames, baseboards if needed, and other areas of concern.

We provide one-time services but recommend monthly or quarterly services to ensure your home remains pest-free.

Call Sleep Tight Extermination to get started with the Chicago ant control solutions you need.

By maintaining your home and yard, you can prevent future ant infestations using the following tips:

• Reduce moisture in your yard by removing leaf litter, dead trees, and other organic debris.
• Keep excess moisture from building up in your home by repairing leaks and using dehumidifiers. 
• Remove debris from gutters and ensure downspouts are guiding water away from your foundation.
• Keep the lawn, trees, and bushes cut short.
• Trim any tree branches touching the exterior of your home as ants can use them as a pathway inside.
• Eliminate food sources by keeping your kitchen and eating areas free of crumbs and spills and storing food properly.
• Get rid of garbage often, using garbage cans with tight-fitting lids and cleaning them out to remove food residue.
• Inspect the foundation and exterior walls of your house for cracks and crevices where ants can get inside.

Keep ants out of your home year-round by working with Sleep Tight Extermination for expert ant control services; contact us today to find out how to get started.