Ants
A professional ant exterminator has the knowledge and effective treatments to solve your infestation quickly and efficiently. And you’ll save time too.
Take control. Stop wasting energy on DIY solutions. A good pest control company can handle the job with minimal effort, and use preventive techniques to stop future infestations.
Midway Pest Management is the best choice for pest management in Johnson County, KS. Our experienced staff can provide long-term solutions for pest issues in your home. Get in touch today!
Identify the Types of Ants in Your Home
| Ant Species | Appearance | Common Locations in Homes | Behavior/Traits |
| Odorous house ants | Small, dark brown/black | Indoors, emit smell when crushed | Emit an odor when crushed that smells like rotten coconut. Nest outdoors but often enter homes in search of food. |
| Pavement ants | Small, black/brown | Floors, cracks, walls | Nest outdoors in cracks and pavement, but often enter homes in search of food. |
| Argentine ants | Very small, light brown | Kitchens, bathrooms | Form large colonies and often create multiple nests indoors. Prefer sweet foods. |
| Pharaoh ants | Yellow/light brown | Inside homes, especially warm areas | Nest indoors in warm, moist areas, such as near heating systems. Can spread disease and are difficult to control once established indoors. |
| Carpenter ants | Large, black | Can cause damage to wood | Nest in wood and can cause damage if left unchecked. Prefer moist or decaying wood, but can also nest in dry wood. |
| Ghost Ants | Small and pale in color, almost translucent, with a distinctive thorax and head. | Kitchens, bathrooms, and other moist areas | Very small and difficult to detect, and known to move quickly and travel in large numbers. Attracted to sweet and sugary foods and can be a persistent nuisance in the home. |
| Fire Ants | Small to medium-sized ants, ranging in color from reddish-brown to black. | Outdoors, especially in yards and gardens | Aggressive and can sting humans and animals, causing a painful, burning sensation. Can build large mounds in open areas and can quickly infest a yard or garden. Attracted to sweet and greasy foods and will enter homes in search of food. |
How to Identify an Ant Infestation
You’ve Found a Nest
If you spot a nest, chances are you have an infestation. Ants like to organize their homes in your attic, walls, basement, and other dark crevices. So if you spot one, investigate further.
Know Your Enemy
Different ant species can bring vastly different levels of destruction. Carpenter ants create structural damage, while fire ants and pavement ants may just be a nuisance.
Look for Damage
Some ants are worse than others. Check for damage from carpenter ants and other suspects to see how badly your home has suffered.
Watch Out For Other Insects
Once you have identified a pest problem, investigate for further signs of other unwanted pests present. This can include cockroaches, termites, bed bugs, spiders, and fleas. Look for the creepy crawlies before they get out of hand and cause even more trouble.
Struggling with Ants? Try These DIY Solutions!
Homeowners may explore DIY solutions for dealing with ant infestations.
Here are some tips:
- Soapy water: Dish soap is a hazard to ants as it can break down their protective exoskeleton and cause them to dehydrate severely. You can eliminate ants with a spray bottle of soapy water, aimed directly at them or at common entry points.
- Lemon juice solution: Create a mixture of equal amounts of water and lemon juice in a spray bottle, shake well, and then spray it on ant trails.
- Mint, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper: Mint, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper are natural repellents for ants. Plant mint around your home or sprinkle crushed mint at entrances. Sprinkle cinnamon along doorways and windowsills wherever you see ant activity. Also, add cayenne pepper at the spots they frequent, or mix it with water and use it as a spray.
- Vinegar: A 50/50 ratio of white vinegar and water creates an effective ant-killing solution that you can directly spray onto any antennae in your home.
- Sugar water and borax: Stir together warm water, sugar, and borax, then soak up the mixture using cotton balls and place them near known ant entry points.
- Peppermint oil: Make your own peppermint oil repellent with 10-20 drops of peppermint oil mixed into 2 cups of water in a plastic spray bottle. Spray and wipe the infested baseboards and windows. Let it dry before repeating this process.
- Boric acid and powdered sugar: Mix 1/2 teaspoon of boric acid with 8 tablespoons of powdered sugar & 1 cup of warm water for another homemade solution that should keep those ants away from your home.
Disadvantages of Do-It-Yourself Ant Extermination Methods
DIY ant solutions may only temporarily get rid of visible ants, not the entire colony hiding in hard-to-reach areas.
If you don’t know what type of ant you’re dealing with, DIY treatments may end up costing you money and time. And your attempts to fix the problem could even make things worse, like accidentally causing infestations to “bud’.
If pests are still causing a problem, then getting a pest control service is the way to go.
At Midway Pest Management, our seasoned exterminators can quickly and safely solve any kind of pest infestation without putting your health at risk. Contact us now!
Eliminate Ants with Midway Pest Management!
Inspections
At Midway Pest Management, an inspection is conducted by first conducting a visual inspection both inside and outside of your property to identify the source of any pest problem. Specialized equipment is used to locate pests, and an action plan is established to address them.
Insect Control
We’ll handle your ant infestation with expert insect control. Our integrated approach combines EPA-registered pesticides and our top pest-control techniques including exclusion, sanitation, and habitat modification to keep pests away for good.
Treatment Plans
We have a variety of solutions available, including bait traps, pest treatments, and bug barriers. Our team uses eco-friendly methods to stop ants from coming back.
Preventative Maintenance Programs
Our team provides secure protection against pests. We customize a prevention plan suited to a wide range of common pest infestations. We focus on proactive treatments, and regular and quarterly inspections.
Follow-up Visits
Our team provides follow-up visits to ensure that the pests are eliminated, and look to find out what caused the infestation in the first place.
Friendly Customer Service
Our team is dedicated to providing the best experience for you. We want to make the process as stress-free as possible, so count on us for friendly customer service, starting with your initial consultation until the follow-up visits.
Combat ants with Midway Pest Management. We offer pest control services with expert solutions.