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Ant Exterminators, Control & Removal

Serving Illinois and Indiana

Anderson has been solving ant pest control issues for generations. Our ant exterminators will quickly eliminate ants, show you likely spots where ants are entering your home, and recommend ways to ensure your home or business stays ant-free.

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Expert Ant Exterminators

The end of winter is a cause to celebrate: the return of warm weather, the anticipation of spring and summer. But when spring and summer arrive, so can hordes of ants. Hundreds or even thousands of them can appear overnight.

Common Ants in Illinois and Indiana

Did you know that over ten thousand unique ant species have been identified across the world? Over time, ants have proven themselves to be one of the most prolific animals our globe as ever seen, spreading throughout different environments and climates however they can and forming gigantic colonies. There are many ant species inhabiting the United States today; here are the ones most often found living in the Midwest:

  • Carpenter Ants do not eat wood; prefer to nest and excavate water-damaged wood.
  • Field Ants build large mounds and can be confused with carpenter ants.
  • Odorous House Ants emit a rotten coconut smell and infest kitchens and pantries.
  • Pavement Ants nest under flat stones, sidewalks, and concrete slabs outdoors.
  • Pharaoh Ants prefer nesting indoors, especially in commercial buildings with artificial heating.

Need Ant Removal? Anderson Pest Solutions Can Help!

Ants are one of the most common pests in and around homes in the Midwest. Ants have a wide variety of nesting habits and food preferences. Some ants build nests in soil, producing characteristic mounds, while others nest in homes behind moldings, baseboards, countertops, and similar areas. Unlike most ants, carpenter ants are wood-destroying pests and nest in decaying or moisture-damaged wood.

Many ants enter homes from outdoor nests as they forage for food. To locate a nest, follow the trail of ants. You can encourage foraging by setting out attractive food, like a dab of honey or jam on a stiff piece of paper. Ants take regular routes between their nest and the food source by establishing a chemical (pheromone) trail. You can locate the nest by watching where the ants go; for some ants, such as carpenter ants, this works best at night. If the nest is discovered, it can be treated or removed (in the case of rotted wood). The home pest control experts at Anderson Pest Solutions are here to help identify ant infestations.

Certified Green Ant Control

Our GreenPro designation means that we comply with the procedures and systems established by the NPMA’s GreenPro Committee to ensure that our customers receive responsible, eco-effective ant control services.

Certified pest control services by Anderson Pest Solutions in Indiana and Illinois

Frequently-asked ant questions

All ant species have the potential to bite or sting, and the severity of their bites depends on the aggressiveness of the species. Most ants that invade homes, such as Argentine ants also known as “sugar ants’, and odorous house ants are non-aggressive and rarely bite. However, fire ants and harvester ants deliver very painful stings with possible allergic reactions in people and animals.

Ants are known to be very social insects. They live in colonies with a leader queen ant as well as worker ants. In fact, most ant species contain four different types of ants: the queen, drones, female workers, and reproductives. The average lifespan of an ant colony varies—fire ant colonies, for example, can live up to seven years! The larger the ant mound, the more mature and large the colony within. Ant colonies can grow to contain tens of thousands of members, and some can even branch into super-colonies wherein multiple nests and colonies cooperate.

Ants are omnivores, feeding on both plant and animal matter. Depending on the species and the time of year, they will be attracted to protein, sweet and greasy substances. Spilled foods, crumbs, and pet food left out in the open appeal to ants. Ants also need water to survive, so any excess moisture in kitchens and bathrooms from leaky pipes and faucets will attract them.

Ants live outside in underground nests. When seeking food, water, and shelter ants can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, any gaps or openings in exterior walls, vents drains, or cables. Ants also sneak in underneath garage and exterior doors and through holes in window screens and gaps around windows and doors. Additionally, when scout ants find a food source in your home they will lay down a chemical trail for other ants to follow.

Ants swarm to mate, and during certain times of the year, your home may be invaded by flying ants. These winged ants are called “reproductives”. When a colony is expanding, the reproductives come out of the colony to mate. These flying ants are often confused with termites, however, ants have thinner waists and shorter wings. If flying ants are seen in the home in the winter, it’s an indication that ants are living within the structure. 

Argentine ants, carpenter ants, odorous house ants, and pharaoh ants will all nest in walls and protective voids in homes, especially during colder weather we experience here in the Midwest. Ants will enter homes through cracks and crevices to access food and moisture resources indoors that they lack outdoors. Once inside your warm walls, they can chew through and damage electrical wiring causing a potential fire hazard.

Although ants do not spread disease from their bites, they do have the ability to harbor and transfer pathogens and disease-producing organisms as they forage for food. Ants carry and can spread bacteria, including Salmonella. Since ants prefer to infest bathrooms and kitchens, they pick up germs and organisms around the toilet and sink areas and can transfer them to food utensils and prep areas in kitchens.

If you spot one ant or a trail of ants in your home, follow the trail to locate their entry point. Entry points can include baseboards along walls, underneath doors, plumbing fixtures, and cabinets. Seal entry points with a silicone-based caulk and spray undiluted vinegar along the trail. Repair leaky plumbing and eliminate food sources by storing foods in containers, cleaning floors, and sanitizing all surfaces. If you are having recurring infestations, it’s best to enlist the help of a professional ant exterminator.

Protect Your Home from Ants

The damage that can occur from ants varies, depending on species. Most ants are primarily a nuisance and cause little damage. Some, such as Pharaoh ants, may infest stored food. Others, like carpenter ants, can weaken wood in structures. There are few diseases associated with ants, but pharaoh ants have been known to transmit disease organisms, such as Staphylococcus, throughout hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Get Rid of Ants with a Professional Ant Control Service

Can you get rid of ants? Outdoor nests can be very difficult to eliminate without chemicals. Using water to flood nests is usually not effective. The use of gasoline also is ineffective, dangerous, and causes environmental pollution. Repeated drenching of a nest with an insecticidal soap solution is sometimes effective, forcing an ant colony to relocate. Remember: in order to relocate an ant colony, you must kill or relocate the queen (or queens).

To get rid of ants entirely and safely, it’s always best to call professional ant exterminators. Anderson Pest Solutions has the training, knowledge, and decades of experience necessary to eliminate ant infestations.

Our Ant Pest Control Guarantee

Anderson guarantees complete satisfaction.

As our client, if you are not satisfied with our services, we will return to your home or business and diligently work to solve the problem as soon as possible. If the pest problem is not solved to your satisfaction, we will keep working until you are completely satisfied with our pest treatment.

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Certified, Trained Ant Control Service Technicians

Every technician’s background is checked
Every technician is screened for drugs
Intensive initial training
Recurring monthly and annual training
Certification required for continued advancement

NPMA Certfied Ant Exterminators in Chicago Libertyville Downers Grove

Anderson Pest Solutions logo - Ant exterminators serving Chicago, Libertyville, Downers Grove, Illinois and Indiana

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Ant Exterminators – Control – Removal Serving Illinois and Indiana

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