When During the Year Should I Worry about Ants in my Collinsville, IL?
Despite being beneficial in nature, ants can become real pests when they enter structures and destroy property. Science has identified about 12,000 separate species of ants worldwide. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry that all of these ants are going to invade your Collinsville, IL home. There is no reason for you to fear a zombie ant-mageddon. Without an industrial-sized can of Raid, resistance would be futile anyway. There are, however, several species of ant that ARE COMMON to this area.
Ants are social creatures that live in colonies, which are dominated by females. The primary female in an ant colony is the queen ant. She is responsible for the reproductive needs (laying eggs) of the colony. There are males in the colony, but their sole purpose is to mate, and once this is done, they pretty much are ignored and eventually die off. Worker ants which are all female can live for a few years, while the queen can live and keep producing baby ants for more than a decade. When you see an ant, it’s almost certainly a female.
6 Types of Ants That Are Most Active In Collinsville, IL
According to the Illinois Department of Health, there are about 6 species of ant that are particularly common in the Illinois and Midwest area. Take a look at some of the species of ant that you might find in Collinsville.
- Pavement Ants
- Odorous House Ants
- Small Honey Ants
- Carpenter Ants
- Larger Yellow Ants
- Pharaoh Ants
Ants That Are Active in the Winter
The is good news for those people with Myrmecophobia, the inexplicable fear of ants. Although in tropical climates, ants are seen year-round, the cold Midwest winters are like kryptonite to ants, forcing them to hibernate for the winter months.
Warm Weather and Ant Activity
After spending several months underground hibernating, the ants come out to play. First to come out, as the weather warms, are the carpenter ants. Instead of being great builders, however, these ants are out to seek and destroy. During spring and summer carpenters are the ants most likely to lead an invasion inside of your home, attacking any wood that they can find. Make sure not to leave sugary substances around, or you are sure to see those tiny honey ants as well.
What to Do If You Have Ants in Your Collinsville, IL.
If you have ants in your home, there’s only one thing to do. Contact Brady Pest & Termite Management NOW! Call us today at (618) 343-1790 and let us get rid of your pest problems.
