Ants

Identifying Dangerous Bugs In Illinois

Illinois is home to more than 900 different types of insects. Tabor Pest Services summarizes the most common ones, separating those which are harmless from those posing potential problems (i.e. bites, infestation, or disease transmission) best addressed by our experienced team.

Ants

On the plus side, ants condition the soil and prey on termites, caterpillars, and other pests. On the downside, ants themselves often become pests, building nests and mounds that are unsightly and prone to damaging structures and property. Moreover, ants consume and contaminate food, and some species are known to sting people, pets, and livestock, occasionally causing death. There are many different kinds of ants, and our ant removal solution depends on which kind we’re dealing with.

Cockroaches

The bane of the insect world, cockroaches are not only unsightly and annoying, but they’re also a threat to human health because they consume our food and contaminate our homes. Through this contamination process, which also includes food preparation surfaces and eating utensils, cockroaches transfer disease pathogens such as those that cause “food poisoning” in humans. Worse still, cockroaches are an exacerbator of respiratory problems, especially asthma. These bugs periodically shed their “skin” (the exoskeleton), fragments of which combine with roach feces to create antigens that float through the air and are hazardous when inhaled. This makes cockroach control near Benton an absolute must.

Mosquitoes

Airborne but just as problematic as cockroaches, every summer sees hordes of mosquitoes descend all manner of outdoor Illinois environs. Most mosquitoes are just nuisances, but some can transmit serious diseases such as encephalitis and malaria in humans, and heartworm disease in dogs. The most prominent kinds of dangerous mosquitoes inhabiting our state are the inland floodwater mosquito. These insects lay their eggs in low-lying flood-prone areas. Under normal summer temperatures, large numbers of these biting mosquitoes will emerge about two weeks after heavy rains and linger for several weeks, causing big problems. In fact, the inland floodwater mosquito is a vicious biter and known to fly 10 or more miles from where they hatch, especially when the wind is right.

Ticks

Around 15 species of ticks occur in Illinois, but only a few are likely to be encountered by people. One of these is the deer tick, infamous for transmitting Lyme disease. This tick feeds on a variety of hosts, including mice, larger warm-blooded animals, and people. Found in wooded areas along trails, it can also pass diseases such as babesiosis and ehrlichiosis to humans. Another dangerous type is the American dog tick, which feeds on humans and medium/large- sized mammals like raccoons and dogs. The American dog tick can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia to humans.

Pest-Proof Your Home Today

From cockroach and ant control near Marion, to spider removal and termite extermination near Carbondale, Tabor Services does it all. Don’t let the presence of bugs and insects in your home get you down – instead, contact our friendly team today and we’ll deliver top-shelf solutions for your total satisfaction.