PEST CONTROL ANTS IS COMMON IN THE SPRING

March 4, 2019

Pest control ants in your home can get out of control when the over-the-counter products you tried don’t work. Don’t waste your time or money! Pest control ants and other household pests is best left to the pros when you want effective, safe treatment that is guaranteed to work, saving you money in the long-run.

Along with the rainy Spring weather comes insect invasions, including a variety of ant species that is common to our area of the country. One of the most troublesome ants is the Odorous House Ant (Latin name Tapinoma Sessile). It is a small black ant that is typically seen on the countertops and in the bathroom. The small insects are particularly attracted to the scent of sugar and grease.

Pest Control Ants – Sweet Ants

The Odorous House Ant (also known as sweet ant) gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it gives off when crushed. These tiny insects are attracted to moisture and are drawn to sweets, especially melon. Typically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall cracks. These ants do not pose a health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided. They usually gain access to your home by climbing on tree branches that brush the side of the house or through tiny cracks and openings around windows, doors or the foundation.

Other species of ants that are commonly found throughout the Midwest are:

Fire Ants (Red Imported Fire Ant – Solenopsis Invicta)
Sugar Ants (Little Black Ant – Monomorium Minimum)
Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium Pharaonis)
Crazy Ants (Paratrechina Longicornis)
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus Species)
Argentine Ants (Linepithema Humile)

Fire ants nest in soil and build large mound nests outdoors in landscaped areas or structures, gaining entry through holes or cracks. They can be a danger to pets and humans; often a person will receive multiple painful stings that raise welts and can cause allergic reactions.

Pharaoh ants live in colonies that contain many queens and 1,000-2,500 workers. Nests are found in walls, under floors, behind baseboards, in trash containers, under stones, in linens and light fixtures. In hospitals they can access wounds, drip lines and instrumentation, causing the spread of infection and electrical interference.

Sugar ants are seen mostly during summer months in kitchens and bathrooms around the sinks. They nest outside and enter the house to forage for food. They eat honeydew, grease, meats, oils, fruits and sweets and invade cabinets and pantries.

Crazy ants are named for their erratic and rapid movement. They nest outdoors under landscape mulch, loose bark on trees, ground cover, in potted plants piles of lumber, firewood or bricks and inside homes in walls, beneath carpeting and in other spaces.

Carpenter ants excavate wood to build their nests, mainly wood that has been wet and damaged by mold but also will tunnel through dry, undamaged wood. They enter buildings through cracks around doors, windows, utility accesses and will crawl along overhead wires, shrubs or tree limbs that touch the building.

Argentine ant colonies can grow to monumental size depositing trails from the nest to a food source. They prefer sweets but will eat almost anything – meats, eggs, oil, and fats. They use tree branches, cracks or openings in the foundation to gain access and build nests in stacks of wood.

Who would believe such tiny little creatures could be such a nuisance or cause all the problems they are prone to do?

Pest Control Ants Colonies

Ants, in general, are very social. They live in colonies that can house many thousands of nesting ants. They leave pheromone trails that enable the worker ants to go back and forth with food for the queens. Following these trails is a way to locate their colony. One thing that can make pest control ants Springfield, Missouri more difficult is the size of the colony – the larger it is, the more difficult to eliminate. Thus, locating the colony is the best way to get rid of them.

Effects of Rain on Pest Control Ants

People often ask us how rain affects the pest control ants service they receive. They want to know if the products lose effectiveness when it rains. We use the finest commercial grade products available that are formulated to withstand contact with water. So whether it’s wet or dry outside, our pest control ants treatments are not compromised. Using the right product in the right situation and performing follow up services is the most effective way to take care of pest control ants.

Now is the time for pest control ants in Springfield and Expert Pest Solutions is ready to do the job right. Call us to schedule pest control ants. Expert Pest Solutions offers a Quarterly Treatment Plan that is effective and affordable. On our quarterly pest control service plan we come out during each season; spring, summer, winter, and fall, as each season has different challenges with pests. You only pay when the treatment is done at the beginning of your quarter, with no additional charge for return visits to treat covered pests between visits.