Ants are usually the first pest of spring
When the snow melts and the ground warms up, ants are often the first pests Michigan homeowners notice. You’ll see lines on the kitchen counter, little piles of sand along the driveway, or big black ants wandering across the living room floor. Johnson Pest Control treats ants with organic, eco-friendly products as part of our general pest control plans.
The ants we see most
- Pavement ants (“slab ants”): small dark-brown ants that nest under sidewalks, driveways, patios and slab foundations, then come up through cracks and expansion joints looking for food. Common in spring and early summer.
- Carpenter ants: large black or black-and-red ants, up to about half an inch long. They don’t eat wood, but they hollow out damp or damaged wood to build nests: window frames, porch posts, roof edges, decks and wood near leaks. Signs include sawdust-like debris (“frass”) under wood, large winged ants inside in spring, and ants active at night. Left alone for years, a carpenter ant colony can weaken wood.
- Other nuisance ants: small “sugar ants” in kitchens and bathrooms, and field ants mounding in lawns.
How we treat ants
Our spring visit (March-May) is aimed at early-season insects like slab ants and carpenter ants. The summer visit (May-August) keeps treating ants while they’re most active, and the fall and winter visits keep the pressure on. Each treatment is customized to your property and covers the inside and outside of your home.
We use long-lasting wettable powders and oil-based concentrates built on FIFRA-exempt essential oils and botanicals. That gives professional results with the safest possible profile for kids and pets.
Plans and pricing
Every plan starts with a $165 initial visit:
- Organic Gold: $96.25 a visit, 12 visits a year (monthly), unlimited free service calls between visits
- Organic Silver: $99.25 a visit, 7 visits a year, 2 free service calls a year
- Organic Bronze: $112.93 a visit, 5 visits a year (quarterly), 1 free service call a year
No contract. Our plans are pay-as-you-go, and you can cancel anytime. A $50 cancellation fee applies.
Scheduling: on every plan, the first two visits are two weeks apart.
Insect-only service (no rodent treatment) is $10 off per visit on Gold or Silver and $15 off on Bronze.
For ants outside the house only, our exterior-only summer building spray is $99 per visit, April-October. See the full price list.
Carpenter ants or termites?
They look similar when they swarm, but they’re treated very differently:
- Carpenter ants: pinched “waist,” bent antennae, back wings shorter than the front ones.
- Termites: straight, thick waist, straight antennae, all four wings the same length.
If you think you might have termites, see our green termite service or call for a free phone consultation.
Our guarantee
General pest control comes with a 30-day re-treat guarantee: if you’re not satisfied with the results for any reason, we re-treat at no charge. Details are in our guarantee and price-beating policy.
Frequently asked questions
Why do ants keep coming back every spring?
The colony lives outside, often under a slab or in a damp spot near the house, and sends foragers in when the weather warms. Regular seasonal treatment keeps that pressure down.
Are carpenter ants a serious problem?
They can be. One or two foragers isn’t an emergency, but large winged ants indoors in spring or piles of wood debris usually mean a nest inside the structure.
Will ant treatment hurt my dog or my garden?
Our products are organic and chosen for the safest profile. We’ll tell you if pets need to stay off a treated area for a while.
Can you just treat once?
Call (269) 459-1788 for a quote on a one-time ant treatment.
Get rid of ants for good
Call (269) 459-1788 or sign up online.