Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Information About Carpenter Ants in Chicago.

Carpenter ants are among the largest ants in the United States, ranging from 3.4 to 13 mm long. The most common color is black, but some species have reddish or yellowish coloration. Workers have large mandibles.  Carpenter ants are not that picky they live both outdoors and indoors mostly in hollow wood. They form their nests in the wood to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. This activity produces wood shavings mixed with parts of dead ants which provides clues to nesting locations.

Carpenter ants are NOT termites.  They do not feed off of wood, but rather eat people food that falls to the ground and they even feed off other insects!  Queen lays 9 to 16 eggs the first year and may live up to 25 years. Eggs complete their life cycle in about 6 to 12 weeks.  In addition to noticing wood shavings the final sign may be the “rustling” sound sometimes heard as the ants go about their activity in the home’s wood.

In controlling an infestation of carpenter ants, it is necessary to first find the nest. Once found, it can be removed or treated chemically. All moisture conditions that the ants found conducive must be corrected.  If treated early, carpenter ants are seldom responsible for serious structural damage to houses and buildings.  Do not wait for ants to gain a foothold in your home this year.  Contact A Complete Pest Solution serving Chicago’s western suburbs at (630) 464-1542.  There is only one type of “ant” that you want visiting this year and that’s your mother or father’s sister!

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

A Bitter Cold Winter Does Not Kill Off All The Bugs.

It is wishful thinking to believe that we in Chicago have been spared any bug infestation in 2015 because of the unusually harsh winter.  The truth is, bugs have an uncanny ability to survive (at least enough of them) to wreak havoc in the spring.

You would think that carpenter ants, termites, and beetles would just go away already and head south.  Many of these pests burrow into the bark of trees during the winter and find a way to survive until the weather moderates.  Bugs do something called “supercooling”.  They will actually purge all of their stomach contents that could potentially freeze.

In the final analysis an excellent pest control company can win the battle of the bugs.  There is no better in Chicago’s western suburbs than A Complete Pest Solution.  Before the infestation begins call them at (630) 464-1542 or visit them on the web at www.acompletepestsolution.com.