Finding ants trailing through your Streator home, especially in your kitchen, is never enjoyable. These tiny insects are common pest invaders in the area, and they can also cause some big concerns given their invasive nature.
While there are many ants in the area, one of the most common subgroups is sugar ants. This term refers to a collection of small ant species known for being attracted to sweet-smelling food items and carrying bits of food back to their nests to eat. However, while they often love sugars and fruits, these ants will also eat other food items, including meats and even pet food.
Like most other ants, sugar ants can get inside a home and quickly spread and reproduce, making them difficult to control. Because of this, knowing how to identify and prevent these ants is the best way to avoid the headaches they can cause.
Do Sugar Ants Pose Health Risks?
Overall, most sugar ants are considered nuisance pests, though they are difficult to eradicate. One of the most common sugar ant species is the pavement ant, and these tiny creatures aren’t dangerous. These small dark brown to black ants are often found outside around sidewalks coming out of small dirt piles.
However, there is an important exception to this rule as Pharaoh ants, another sugar ant species that can be dangerous to have around. These ants are about 1/16 of an inch in length and yellow-brown or yellow-tan in color. While they can be difficult to identify, one of the things that set them apart is that they have 12-segmented antennae.
This specific species is known to spread pathogens in both homes and businesses. In fact, they often even invade healthcare facilities and hospitals where they will get into IVs and even patient wounds and spread disease.
In homes, they often crawl around countertops and get into food, spreading germs to the things you eat.
The Best Way To Remove Sugar Ant Infestations
If you’ve found Pharaoh ants or other sugar ant species around your kitchen, don’t waste time dealing with them. The experts at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators can quickly eradicate these pests and keep them from returning. These ants are a challenge to remove using pesticides and traps found at the store, so let our team provide residential pest control you can rely on.
To find out more about our ant control plans, give us a call today and request a quote or inspection.
Five Ways To Prevent Sugar Ants In Streator
When you’re already dealing with sugar ants in your home, professional pest control is key, but there are preventive measures you can take to keep ants from coming back. The following five steps are effective ways to keep sugar ants away from your property:
Regularly clean kitchens by doing dirty dishes and sweeping and mopping floors. Also, deep clean under appliances and in the back of cabinets.
Place tight-fitting lids over garbage cans both in and around your house.
Keep ants from getting inside by sealing up holes and cracks in the walls and foundation using products like foam or caulk. Also, install door sweeps and weather stripping.
Repair or replace broken screens in doors and windows.
Always wipe up food and drink spills right after they happen.
Limiting access to food and eliminating entry points are important factors in minimizing the risk of ant infestation. For more advice or assistance with sugar ant prevention, don't hesitate to contact the experts at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators.