Ant infestations are the most commonly reported pest problem. These tiny scavengers will enter your home or business looking for moisture and an accessible food source. Rotting or damp wood that is moldy can attract ants. Ants also feed on sugar, cheese, meats, vegetables, grease, peanut butter, and dead insects.

Ants often enter a home through cracks around windows or doors, but they can find numerous entrances to your home or business. Once inside, the growing ant colony can become a problem quickly, as ants mature from juveniles to adults within a matter of days.

It is necessary to properly identify the ant species that you have in order to effectively eradicate them. Of the thousands of species of ants, the five listed below are the most commonly found in Central Illinois.

Carpenter Ants: 1/4 to 3/4 inches long. These large black or black and red ants tend to burrow in damp wood but have also been known to damage solid wood. They do not eat the wood, but simply remove it in order to build a nest.

Odorous House Ants: 1/16 to 1/8 inches long.  These small brown or black ants prefer sweets and are often referred to as “sugar ants”.  They are normally found in kitchens or bathrooms where there is plenty of moisture.  When crushed these ants give off the smell of rotten coconut giving them their name.

Citronella Ants: 1/8 to 3/8 inches long.  These larger yellow ants prefer to nest in areas of high moisture, and could be a sign of a moisture problem if nesting within the structure.  They feed on honeydew from aphids and other sap-sucking pests.  When crushed or threatened they emit a lemon or citronella scent giving them their name.

Pavement Ants:  about 1/8 inch long. These small black to light brown ants generally make their nests outdoors in pavement cracks, under rocks, or along curbs.  They often infest buildings while foraging for food, but can nest indoors inside walls or under floors.  They prefer greasy foods but will eat most foods consumed by humans.  They have small stingers and will sting and bite.

Pharaoh Ants: about 1/16 inch long. They are a small yellow or light brown almost transparent ant.  These ants are commonly found in hospitals and nursing homes, where they are capable of transmitting Staphylecoccus and Psuedomonas infections. Pharaoh Ants also invade restaurants, apartment buildings and similar dwellings.

Ants with wings can easily be mistaken for termites, which may lead to a wrong treatment. In comparison, ants have a very narrow thorax (mid-section), while termites' bodies are more uniform.  Also ants have longer wings in the front and shorter in the back, while termite wings are all the same length.

Ants can be very difficult to control.  Many do-it-yourself ant treatments kill only the ants you see leaving thousands still in the nest.  ARAB Termite & Pest Control will use modern products and techniques to penetrate the nest and prevent these pests from returning.  We will then customize a service plan to protect your home or business from future infestations.