Regardless of where you live on the planet, ants are a problem. In Illinois, we are no exception, but you already knew that. Ants ruin your barbecues, invade your hummingbird feeders, swarm your drinks; and sometimes, they even make their way into your home. If you see ants near your Illinois home, this guide will help you determine what they are and how to control them.
Type of Ants in Illinois
The most common type of ants that cause headaches in Illinois are:
Citronella ants: Golden yellow ants that are only about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch long. They nest in soil beneath rocks, lawn ornaments, concrete slabs, porches, and other structures. These ants need moisture and water, so they are drawn to damp areas. It is not unusual to find the citronella ant in crawl spaces, gardens, under paving stones, and beneath wood piles
Acrobat ants: You don’t want these ants to put a show on for you. Acrobat ants are either yellowish-brown or black. This ant grows to between 1/8 inch and 3/8 inch in size. These ants love your wood pile and other sources of wet wood on your property. Wood siding, wooden furniture and decorations, and rocks attract the acrobat ants for nesting. Unfortunately, these ants will enter your home too if they can. The acrobat ant is named for its ability to get where it needs to go by climbing walls and trees, marching across power lines, and squeezing through cracks in the foundation.
Thief ants: These small burglars grow to be only 1/16 inch in size. The thief ant earned its name for its acts of tunneling to another ant nest and swiping the larvae so they can feed their own colony. Thief ants also feed on greasy foods, dairy, meat, and more. There isn't much the thief ant won’t eat, and the colony will invade your home to get to the good stuff. Thief ants will enter homes when the temperature outside get too high.
Odorous house ants: One of the worst ants to have in your home is the odorous house ant. You can guess where the name comes from - it's pungent smell. The odorous ant grows to about 1/8 inch in size. They are considered nuisance pests because they enter homes through cracks, crevices, and open windows. Once they enter, they will feed on everything from milk and meat to garbage.
How to Prevent Ants in Your Home
These ants make terrible house guests. Take steps to prevent them so you don’t deal with a huge problem later. To prevent ants in your home:
Seal cracks and crevices around your home.
Fix any problems with the foundation.
Don’t leave food or drinks out.
Remove dead trees and debris from the outside of your home.
Call the professionals at Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators.
Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators has a residential pest control services that prevent and control ants around your home. Call today for your home inspection to make sure there are no ants waiting to invade.