Fraud Blocker Effective, Affordable & Reliable Ant Extermination - Pestex ...

Thorough Ant Control & Removal - Quality. Effective. Trusted.

Pest Control & Extermination Services

PROMPT. AFFORDABLE. COMPLETE EXTERMINATION.

You Have An Ant Problem, and we have the solution.

What Sets Our Ant Extermination Services Apart

Expertise in Ant Control

Our team of certified professionals have years of experience dealing with all kinds of pest problems including ants. Whether you're dealing with carpenter ants, pavement ants, or odorous house ants, we use proven techniques and powerful products to provide lasting and effective results. Comprehensive Inspection: We start with a thorough inspection to identify the type of ant that has infested your home, and the extent of the infestation. Tailored Solutions: Based on our inspection, we’ll provide you with a customised plan designed to target not only the visible ants, but also the colony - the root of the problem - ensuring complete extermination.

Innovative Treatment Methods

We use state-of-the-art technology and eco-friendly methods to ensure effective results while minimizing any impact on your home and environment. Our treatments are designed to ensure you can get back to your everyday life as quickly as possible! Advanced Equipment: Our tools and techniques are up-to-date and approved by the Ministry of Environment (MOE), ensuring the best results, Eco-Friendly Options: All of our pest control solutions including our ant extermination services are safe for pets and children.

Local Expertise

Being a locally-owned company in Southern Ontario, we understand the specific pest challenges in our area and provide tailored solutions to resolve your problems. Knowledge of Local Pests: We’re familiar with all the ant species in our region (you can learn more about them below). Rapid Response: Being locally-owned means all of our staff is available to respond to urgent infestations, allowing us to offer same-day extermination & emergency services!

Customer-Centric Approach

Our goal is to make the process as smooth and hassle-free as possible for you. Transparent Communication: We keep you informed throughout the process, ensuring you understand each part of our services. Affordable Pricing: Our services are competitively priced with no hidden fees, and we always inform our customers of the service price beforehand! Our reputation is built on trust and positive reviews from satisfied customers. We have numerous reviews praising our effectiveness and customer service. Look above to see what others are saying about us!

Our Thorough Ant Control Process For Complete Elimination

Pest Technician Inspecting A House For A Pest Infestation

Thorough Inspection:

 We start with a thorough inspection to identify the location and extent of the infestation. Here, we come up with a plan to address the infestation and take the necessary steps to ensure effective removal.

Carpenter Ant Pest Control

Customised Treatment Plan:

Based on our inspection, we develop a customised treatment plan catered directly to the infestation you’re facing! Our plan will include a multitude of products, techniques, and applications, and we use residual sprays and dusts which are harmless to humans and pets, but will ensure your home is ant-free for 6 months!

A Pest Control Technician Working On An Infestation

Application of Ant Treatment:

Our experienced technicians treat all infested areas with precision and care. We ensure that all infested areas are treated, and we use products that are both effective and safe for your home or business.

A picture of a pest control technician holding a spray canister

Preventive Measures To Stop Future Infestations:

To prevent future infestations, we offer advice and solutions to help you keep ants away. This might include sealing entry points using mesh, wire or steel wool, improving sanitation, or taking other measures tailored to your specific needs!

All About Ants - An In-Depth Guide To Infestations

Understanding ants and their behaviour is crucial for effectively managing and preventing infestations. As a homeowner you want to know what’s going on in your ant infested home, or, what to expect in an unfortunate future.  Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you grasp the ins and outs of ant problems, so you can better protect your home or business.

Signs Of An Ant Infestation

Identifying an ant infestation early can prevent a small problem from becoming a major and expensive issue requiring repairs. Here’s what to look for if you suspect ants are coming into your home:

  • Visible Ant Trails: Ants often follow visible paths between their nest and food sources. Seeing a line of ants marching to and from a particular spot, or frequently seeing ants in the same areas usually indicates an active infestation.
  • Nesting Sites: Ants build nests in various locations, including soil, wood,inside baseboards and even inside your walls! If you notice small mounds of dirt or sawdust, it could be a sign of an ant colony nearby!
  • Food Contamination: Ants are attracted to food. If you find ants in your kitchen, pantry, or near food storage areas, it suggests they’ve found a food source, and they may set up a colony. 
  • Increased Ant Activity: A sudden increase in the number of ants around your home or business can signal an infestation. It’s important to note that if there is an ant colony in or around your home, you won’t see all of them all at once, and so seeing an increase in activity can mean an infestation is present even if you don’t see hundreds of ants! And remember, ants are social insects, so a few can quickly turn into many!
  • Ants Inside the Home: While it’s normal to see ants outside, frequently finding them inside your home, especially in areas like the kitchen or bathrooms, is a clear indicator of an underlying infestation.
  • Piles of Sawdust or Frass: Carpenter ants are notorious for leaving behind piles of frass and sawdust when building their colonies. These small piles are found near wood that has been infested by carpenter ants. 
  • Strange Smells: Some ants, like the odorous house ant, release a foul odour when crushed. If you notice unusual and foul smells, especially in areas where ants are visibly present, it may be a sign of an infestation.

What To Do If You Notice These Signs

  • Act Quickly: The sooner you address the problem, the easier it will be to control. If you see any signs of ants, contact a pest control professional for a quick phone assessment, inspection, and treatment if necessary.
  • Avoid DIY Solutions: While there are many DIY treatments available, they often only address the symptoms and not the root cause. Professional pest control ensures complete extermination, targeting the entire colony, whilst DIY methods usually only exterminate the visible infestation.
  • Monitor and Prevent: After treatment, keep an eye out for any returning ants and take preventive measures to avoid future infestations. Regular inspections and proper sanitation can help keep ants at bay.

Common Ant Species Found in Ontario

A Black Carpenter Ant

Black Carpenter Ants:

These are among the most problematic ants in Ontario. They build their colonies in damp or decaying wood, and their activity can cause significant structural damage to homes as their name suggests. Carpenter ants are large, ranging from 6 to 19 millimetres (1.2 cm on average), and in Ontario are completely black in colour. Their colonies are often found in wooden structures, including walls and floors. The colonies consist of worker ants and a queen, and the colonies usually become active at night.

Pavement Ants in Ontario

Pavement Ants:

Typically brownish black in colour, and ranging from 2.5 to 4 millimetres in length, pavement ants are known for nesting in cracks in pavements, driveways,concrete, walls, patios, underneath floors, and sidewalks. They are common around outdoor areas but can invade homes in search of food. Their colonies can be quite large, with multiple queens and thousands of ants. The body of pavement ants is distinguished by the two spines found at the end of theory thorax.

Odorous House Ants in Ontario

Odorous House Ants:

Named for the unpleasant smell they emit when crushed, odorous house ants are small, ranging from 1.5 to 3 millimetres in length. They are brown or black and are known for their sweet tooth. These ants build nests almost anywhere, but are commonly found under stones, mulch, logs, debris, and colonies can be found inside homes within walls, window frames, and insulation in the walls. They can quickly become a nuisance if not addressed promptly, especially because of their foul odour.

Pharaoh Ants in Ontario

Pharaoh Ants:

These ants are small, ranging in colour from yellowish brown to light brown to light red, these ants have a small size of about 2 millimetres. Pharaoh ants are notorious for their ability to spread diseases. They prefer warm and humid environments like bathrooms and kitchens, and they often nest in hidden areas like spacing in the walls, behind appliances, and in cracks of the structure of a home like the foundation. Their colonies can be extensive, growing large in size to multiple nests, making these ants challenging to control.

Argentine Ants in Ontario

Argentine Ants:

These small, light to dark brown ants measure from 2.2 to 2.8 millimetres in length. They form large colonies and are known for their aggressive foraging behaviour.Argentine ants prefer to live outside, however, they are known to invade homes when foraging for foods, leading to large colonies. Argentine ants are highly adaptable and will invade your home through openings if they need food. Argentine ant colonies are known to house hundreds of queen and millions of ants, covering entire city blocks in past findings. These types of ant infestations are thus the most problematic, and it is important you take immediate action if you see signs of these ants invading your home/business.

Thief Ants in Ontario

Thief Ants:

Thief Ants are among the smallest household ants in Ontario. They range in size from 1.5 to 2.2 mm in length, and get their name because they will nest close to and sometimes inside the colonies of other ants. These ants can range in colour from dark brown to a pale yellow.

How to Identify and Deal With These Ants

  • Identification: Correctly identifying the ant species is crucial for effective treatment. Look for specific traits such as colour, size, and nesting habits to determine the type of ant.
  • Professional Help: If you’re unsure about the species or how to manage the infestation, contact a pest control expert. We can help provide accurate information, and come by for a free inspection, to help give you peace of mind and advise you on the next steps you should take.
  • Prevention: Regular inspections and maintaining a clean environment can help prevent ant infestations. Seal entry points and address moisture issues to make your property less attractive to ants, and do not leave unsealed food out or crumbs on the floor!

The Little-Known Dangers Of Ant Infestations

Ant infestations are more than just a nuisance; they can pose several risks to your health and property. While ants might seem harmless, their presence can lead to various issues that are often overlooked. Here’s what you need to know about the hidden dangers of ant infestations:

  • Structural Damage: Certain ant species, like carpenter ants, can cause significant damage to your home. They nest in wood, and over time, their burrowing and excavation can weaken structural components of your home like beams, floors, and walls, and an infestation can also cause cosmetic damage requiring repairs. This damage can be costly to repair and might compromise the safety of your home in extreme scenarios. 
  • Health Risks: While ants themselves are not known to transmit diseases, they can carry and spread pathogens and bacteria. For example, ants can contaminate food, surfaces, and supplies through the bacteria they have picked up. This can pose a health risk, especially in areas where sanitation is important, like the kitchen and even bathroom. 
  • Food Contamination: Many ants, such as odorous house ants and pharaoh ants, are attracted to foods and sugars. Their foraging habits can lead to contamination of your food supplies without you even knowing. This is particularly problematic in homes where individuals may have weak or developing immune systems (children, elderly, etc).
  • Allergic Reactions: Some ant species, like red imported fire ants, are known for their painful stings that can cause allergic reactions. These stings can lead to severe itching, swelling, and, in some cases, more serious health issues, including anaphylactic shock in individuals with severe allergies. It is therefore very important to not take infestations lightly!
  • Increased Pest Problems: An ant infestation can sometimes indicate and even attract other pest issues. For instance, ants often invade homes in search of food, which may attract other pests. Some pests like centipedes and spiders are attracted to homes where there are already many pests like ants, as this allows them to have a constant food supply. This can lead to a more extensive pest problem if not addressed promptly.

How To Mitigate These Risks

  • Prompt Action: If you suspect an ant infestation, act quickly. Early intervention can prevent serious property damage, secondary pest issues, and health risks.
  • Regular Inspections: Conduct regular inspections of your property to identify and address potential ant problems before they escalate, keep an eye out in more humid areas of your home, and the kitchen where food may be left out. 
  • Professional Help: Contact a pest control expert if you’re dealing with an ant infestation. They can provide a thorough inspection, accurate identification of the ant species, and effective treatment solutions.
  • Preventive Measures: Maintain a clean environment, seal entry points, address moisture issues, and do not leave food unsealed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What attracts ants to my home?

Common Attractants: Ants are often attracted to food sources, especially sugary and greasy items. Crumbs, spills, and improperly stored food can lure ants into your home when foraging. Environmental Factors: Moisture and warm temperatures can also attract ants. Leaky pipes, damp areas, and other humidity issues in your home can be a significant draw.

Are DIY ant control methods effective?

Pros and Cons: DIY methods can be effective for minor infestations, but they often fall short for larger problems. Over-the-counter products are not nearly as powerful as the products used by professional licensed extermination companies like Pestex. When to Seek Help: For persistent or extensive infestations, professional treatment is usually more effective, as DIY methods fail to exterminate underlying colonies in hidden areas, whereas professionals use products that are able to provide full coverage.

Are the treatments safe for my family and pets?

Safety Measures: At Pestex, we prioritise using safe and effective treatments. We offer eco-friendly options and ensure that all of our products are safe for children and pets! Precautions: We provide clear guidelines on how to stay safe during and after any treatment.

How can I prevent future ant infestations?

Keep your home clean and free of food debris, seal entry points like cracks in the foundation or broken window meshes, and address any moisture issues. Regularly inspect your home for signs of ants and take action early.

What should I do if I spot ants after treatment?

Follow-Up: If you continue to see ants after treatment, contact Pestex for a follow-up inspection. We can reassess the situation and adjust our approach if necessary. Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing monitoring and preventive measures can help keep your home ant-free.

Our Service Area

Call Now
Get A Quote