All ants are not created equal. There are citronella ants, sugar ants, and just plain old kitchen or house ants. Most ants appear inside and outside of your home, but few are as damaging as carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants love your home.
As spring turns to summer, carpenter ants thrive outdoors. The wet woodpile, discarded tree branches, and rotting or dead trees offer a spectacular nesting location for these ants. They need water resources to survive and will follow the water trail straight to your wet basement or damaged foundation.
Your home provides carpenter ants with a place to nest and a reliable food source. Carpenter ants build nests in the soft damp or dead wood. Their mandibles are super strong and like carpenter bees, they do not eat the wood, they discard it as they work to create their nests.
Carpenter ants love protein: dead insects, pet food that has been lying around, and most meats and sugars left on counters and floors. They will travel near and far for food. Their sweet tooth is famous as well as their hunger for honey, jellies, syrups and spilled sweet drinks.
What are the signs of carpenter ant infestations?
We have been called by homeowners after they noticed splintered and decaying wood and weakened steps on their wooden deck. The number of visible ants was not significant. Upon inspection, we uncovered the nests and began treatment.
Homeowners will notice piles of discarded wood shavings and some have heard the ants chewing the wood, evidence of a large colony. Carpenter ant swarmers are a true signal of carpenter ant infestation. These winged relatives of carpenter ants are larger and more mobile than the regular carpenter ant.
How do I get rid of carpenter ants?
According to pestworld.org,
To prevent brown, red, or black carpenter ants in the house, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of doors or around windows. Seal all openings with a silicone-based caulk. Also, keep firewood and building materials stored away from the home. Carpenter ants like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Carpenter ants present a significant hazard to home and property. Their nesting habits create weakened structures and opportunity for other pests to enter your home. Treatments are available and are successful when properly dispensed. Annual contracts provided by Accurate pest Control insure regularly structured treatments in support of colony removal. Homeowners can contact Accurate Pest Control for quick service when carpenter ants are seen on or around the property.
If you see carpenter ants in your home, call us at tel:1-518-374-0357 for 24/7 service.
