Ant Control Des Plaines
Certified Colony Elimination

Getting Ant Control Right in Des Plaines Starts With the Species

Not all ants respond to the same treatment — and applying the wrong method can accelerate the problem rather than solve it. In Des Plaines, residential infestations most commonly involve Argentine ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, and Pharaoh ants. Each species nests differently, responds differently to treatment, and requires a different professional approach.

The most common mistake homeowners make is applying aerosol sprays to visible ants. This kills visible ants but does not affect the queen or the thousands remaining in the colony. In some species — particularly Pharaoh ants — spraying causes the colony to split into multiple satellite colonies, spreading the infestation.

Ant Species Active in Des Plaines Homes

• Argentine Ants: Form supercolonies with thousands of queens and millions of workers. Highly adaptable foragers attracted to sweet food sources and moisture — and extremely difficult to eliminate without colony-targeted bait.
• Odorous House Ants: Identified by the strong rotten-coconut odour produced when crushed. Odorous house ants nest inside wall voids, beneath flooring, and under insulation — making visual location of the colony difficult without professional inspection.
• Carpenter Ants: Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood — they excavate it to create galleries for nesting. Large black carpenter ants seen inside a Des Plaines property indicate an established structural nesting site, typically in moisture-softened wood.
• Fire Ants: Found in southern states. Build mound nests in lawns. Stings can cause serious allergic reactions.
• Pharaoh Ants: Tiny, pale yellow ants that nest deep within wall voids, behind electrical outlets, and inside insulation. Require slow-acting bait specifically — any spray or repellent causes colony budding and spreads the infestation.