Pest activity in the Chicago area is geared to the weather and the temperature, says Ron Harrison, entomologist and director of training for Orkin Inc.’s Training Center. As soon as you get consistent temperatures of 65 degrees and over in Chicago, homeowners will see a vanguard of ants come marching in, he says. Especially carpenter ants, a species that likes to hide in attics and eat wood.
“Ants have made it to the top of the pest list,” says Deanna Branscome, technical representative for Syngenta, an agribusiness that provides commercial and residential pest-management products.
“Pests are a lot like us,” says Harrison. “When it gets cool at night, they come into the house for a nice warm place to weather until it gets nicer outside,” he adds.
So what’s your battle plan? Here are five tips from the experts.
Mary Daniels, [email protected]
1. Keep it sealed. Look for all possible cracks and crevices, such as a hole around your cable line, and seal them. Fit screens and tighten seals on doors and windows. “Spiders will build a web where there is an air current, and that may be an entry point for [other] pests,” such as ants, says Harrison.
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Also patch holes in walls. “Many species, like ants, harbor in wall voids because it is a protected area,” says Branscome. “The voids are a source of warmth and also a source of moisture. Seal up these voids.”
2. Keep it dry. Eliminate sources of standing water. Do you have a tire or bucket somewhere that is holding water? Get rid of it. “Some people put out plants with a saucer under it that holds water outside near the house,” says Harrison. “Keep plants at least 2 to 3 feet from homes because they attract insects. Don’t leave moisture dripping from an air conditioner unit, inviting insects in,” he adds.
3. Keep it clean. Vacuum regularly, wipe counters, wash dirty dishes and remove trash daily if you can. Keep trash cans well away from the house exterior.
4. Don’t offer hospitality. Pick up pet food from floors at night. Don’t feed pets outdoors. Keep all food containers tightly sealed.
5. Ask for help. “A lot of home- owners will attempt to treat a problem by themselves and end up exacerbating the problem,” warns Branscome. “You can make the problem worse by irritating ants. You can cause 10 more colonies. They do … ‘budding’ when threatened. They have multiple queens and will split off and form other colonies.” And, since “not all ants are created equal,” your do-it-yourself treatment may backfire. “Each [species] has its own biology and behaviors. The professional will identify the species, which is the key to what kind of treatment you put out,” she says. And ask for eco-friendly treatment if you are so inclined. In the last few years, major pest-control companies have greener products available.