The Many Types Of Ants That Can Invade Your Home
There is a wide range of ants in and around Chicago. Some of the different types of ants that you are most likely to see around your home include:
- Pavement ants: These ants are dark brown or black. True to their name, pavement ants like to build colonies near the pavement. You will commonly find pavement ant colonies in the cracks of sidewalks or near your concrete porch.
- Carpenter ants: These ants can be extremely destructive. Like termites, carpenter ants like to consume wood. They can destroy the structural integrity of your home or other wooden structures.
- Pharaoh ants: These ants like to live in warm and humid climates with plenty of water. They tend to live in large colonies with several thousand ants. These are among the most common types of ants in restaurants, grocery stores, and other establishments that handle food.
- Odorous house ants: These ants are some of the most common types of ants found inside Chicago homes. This type of ant usually has a black body and is only about 1/8 of an inch long. They are attracted to sweet food and will commonly live in between the walls of your home and wait for you to drop cookie crumbs or any other food, then they will come out to consume the food.
Ants tend to travel in large groups. If you see only one or two ants in your home, there is a good chance that you're seeing scout ants checking out the surroundings. Once establishing your home is safe, more will soon follow.
How Dangerous Is It To Have Ants In My House?
Ants may seem harmless, but they can cause many problems for you and your family. As we have previously mentioned, some ants are extremely destructive and cause a lot of damage to your wooden structures.
Also, all the ants native to this area can bite people and animals. While these ant bites don't contain any venom, they can still hurt and lead to infection if you clean the bite site properly.
Ants are unclean insects that spend their day crawling over garbage, fecal matter, dead carcasses, and other unsanitary surfaces. While crawling over these filthy areas, they will pick up various types of bacteria that they can then spread to you by walking across your food or food preparation surfaces.
How And Why Ants Find Their Way Into Your Home
Ants will come into your home in search of food and water. They are so tiny that they can fit in the smallest cracks and gaps around your house that you may not even be aware of.
The best way to prevent ants from entering your home is to make sure you keep all food, including pet food, in airtight containers. It is also a good idea to fix leaky pipes or faucets and clean up water droplets around your sink.
Contact The Pros At The First Sign Of Ants In Your Home
It doesn't take long for one ant in your home to turn into a full ant infestation. If you see any signs of ants in your Chicago home, contact us as soon as possible. At Aerex Pest Control, we have state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to get rid of every ant in your house.