CARPENTER ANTS

You know those really big, black ants that you see, the kind that look like they could have come from some bad B movie? Well, most likely those are Carpenter Ants. And they are probably the most common invader of homes in our area. While sometimes confused with termites, Carpenter Ants don’t actually eat the hard wood that your home is constructed of. Rather, they prefer moist, rotting wood and soft materials. They don’t consume it for food they merely dig through it, creating tunnels and nests. Below you will find some general information on Carpenter Ants and also some tips on treatment.

6 FACTS ABOUT CARPENTER ANTS

Carpenter Ants have 1 node, or ‘spike’ on their back just below the waist.

• When outside Carpenter Ants will be found in dead and decaying trees, logs and stumps, because of this homes located in wooded areas are especially subject to infestations.
• They are social insects that live in colonies. Once a colony becomes several years old it will reach a population of 2,000 – 3,000.
• Once a colony reaches this size it will produce winged male and female ‘swarmers’ which will come out in the warm weather in the Spring and Summer to mate.
• Large black ants found in the home are usually the first sign that you may have an infestation.
• Numerous winged ants at the windows on the INSIDE of the home probably signals an indoor nest. As stated above winged ants are not produced until the colony reaches into the thousands – so this is something that would need to be addressed immediately.
• Carpenter Ants do not eat wood, they just tunnel through it. This will leave a sawdust like material called frass.

Carpenter Ant frass looks like sawdust.

4 TIPS ON HOW TO GET RID OF CARPENTER ANTS

• First and most important – Find The Nest.
• Correct any moisture conditions that are conducive to the Carpenter Ants environment.
• Treat with bait.
• You may have a colony rebound if treatment is done incorrectly. That is why when dealing with a Carpenter Ant problem it is best to hire a professional.

Severe Carpenter Ant infestation

Above is an example of a severe Carpenter Ant infestation. You don’t want your problem to reach this level! Although Carpenter Ants don’t eat the wood like termites they can still cause a great amount of damage.

If you suspect a Carpenter Ant problem in your home, call Rapid Pest Solutions for a free inspection or click below to schedule.