Ants

What are ants?

Ants are small, social insects that have segmented bodies with thin waists and elbowed antennae. They live in large, highly-organized, underground or above ground colonies that can number in the millions. Living in cooperative, caste systems, each individual performs a specific task to help support the colony. Ants are beneficial in their outdoor environment, but can be a persistent nuisance if they venture indoors to forage for food and water. New Jersey and New York are home to numerous ant species, including:

• Odorous house ants, which are commonly known as sweet ants or house ants. These ants get their name from the strong odor they leave after being crushed.  Odorous house ants live in large colonies with multiple queens. They will create large above ground colonies adjacent to one another, nesting under compost and other stationary objects.  Homes surrounded by wooded areas are prone to reinfestation yearly. These pests will also nest inside homes  and will inundate kitchen counters and garbage cans seeking sweet food or spilled liquids.

• Little black ants nest indoors and feed on nearly anything humans eat. They are just 1/16th of an inch long, but can easily infiltrate food containers, contaminating contents.

• Pavement ants are small, dark brown ants that make their homes under concrete structures. When they become active in the spring, they can become a serious nuisance as they swarm by the thousands over sidewalks, patios and into homes built on slabs.

• Argentine ants are small and brown. They nest outdoors in yards or along structural foundations and feed on a wide variety of foods. Their huge colonies and the proximity of nests to foundation walls make argentine ants an occasional home invader.

• Field ants are extremely rare in homes, but are more commonly found in gardens, and can damage and kill landscape plants.

• According to the Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious medical journals, pharaoh ants can spread disease. These ants were captured in nine hospitals and were found to be carriers of Pseudomonas, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Clostridium spp.

Why do I have ants?

These small scavengers will enter your home or business looking for a source of moisture and easy access to food. Ants feed on most anything including sugar, cheese, meats, vegetables, grease, peanut butter and dead insects. These nuisance insects will often enter a home through cracks around windows or doors, but they have the ability to find many other small openings to enter your home or building. Once inside, if they establish a nest, the growing ant colony can become a problem quickly, as ants develop from juveniles to adults within a matter of a few days.

Are they dangerous?

Most ants are considered nothing more than a nuisance; however they can contaminate our food supply, creating waste, when they invade our pantries and cupboards. Ants can sting or bite and these can be particularly painful. In some cases, bites and stings can cause serious allergic reactions in some people. Pharaoh ants are also known carriers of many serious illnesses that can be transmitted to humans.

How do I get rid of ants?

Proper identification of the ant species that is infesting your property is the key to effectively getting rid of ants in the kitchen or throughout your home. These insects can be difficult to get rid of due to their foraging habits and colony development. Only a small percentage of ants working within a colony are actively searching for food, so it is important to inspect and locate where the ants are coming from. It is entirely possible for ants to be foraging long distances and the nest may not actually be located on your property. A ChemTec pest professional will design a customized ant control program that fits the specific needs of your property, with the goal of eliminating all of the foraging ants as well as the entire colony.  Ant treatments are most effective from late spring to early fall when they are most active.  Colonies are much harder to find once they have established residence in your home; in-home treatments are most effective late fall to early spring.

Can I do it myself?

Simply killing the foraging ants will not get rid of your ant problem; you must eliminate the entire ant colony, which may be hard to locate. Many homeowners who have tried to get rid of ants on their own have actually made their ant problem worse. Over-the-counter sprays, baits and repellents can cause a phenomenon called "budding" in which ants split from their home nest in order to avoid the repellents and will actually start new colonies on their own. Remember – if misused or mixed improperly, do-it-yourself pesticides can be very dangerous to people, pets or plants.

Is the treatment safe?

The pest professionals at ChemTec Pest Control will first correctly identify what species of ant is invading your home or business, locate the colony and then create a treatment plan that will eliminate your pest problem quickly and in an environmentally responsible manner. Before any treatments begin, our inspectors will consult with you regarding your children, pets, and gardens and then based on your current situation; they will then customize a treatment plan specifically for you.

How soon can you get here?

ChemTec Pest Control is committed to helping you as soon as possible. In most cases, we can respond the same or very next day.

What is the guarantee?

Our guarantee is simple: if you are not completely satisfied, we will give you your money back. If you have a problem with the pest after our services, just call us and we will come back to retreat for the pest at no additional charge within the warrantee period. We want all of our customers to be completely satisfied with our services and we will always work towards that goal. Please visit Our Guarantee page for more information.

How can I prevent this in the future?

Many ant problems can be difficult to prevent so many of our customers chose a continuous Protection Program to help guard against future ant infestations.

Where does ChemTec Pest Control service?

ChemTec provides service throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union Counties in New Jersey. We also provide service to Rockland and Orange Counties in New York.