Date Posted: October 19, 2018
Category: Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are as lively as ever during the fall. It’s important to look out for the warning signs these pests leave behind. The damage they can cause when going undetected for a span of time can be alarming. If you think you have a carpenter ant infestation, it’s not something to put on the back burner.
Carpenter ants will damage a home by making nests throughout the wooden structures. They are capable of doing similar damage as termites. The difference in their damage is that termites eat the wood and nest underground, whereas carpenter ants will tunnel away just to make their nests and then live inside the wood. The damage they cause can be pricey to repair. They’re able to hollow out a wooden structure to the point where it’s unstable, therefore causing a tremendous hazard in your home. Carpenter ant colonies can include thousands of ants so the damage can happen more quickly than people may realize. Aside from damaging your property, carpenter ants aren’t very harmful to humans. They can bite, but rarely do so and even when they do, they pose no threat because they are not venomous.
Since carpenter ants don’t eat wood, they may find other sources of food inside your home. A colony will send out “scout” ants to search the premises and deem whether it’s fit to inhabit or not. If they find food sources and determine it’s sustainable, the colony will soon be building their fortress in your walls. This is why it’s important to pay attention even if you only see one ant or two roaming your floor. To prevent carpenter ants: keep food sealed as best you can, take out the trash frequently, and clean up any crumbs or spills quickly. There are other prevention tools you can put in place as well, such as sealing holes or cracks that these ants can use as entrances to your home. If there’s no way in, they can’t use your home as their own. Carpenter ants are attracted to damp or damaged wood. If you notice a leak or damaged wood, be sure to take care of it right away. These ants will soon move on to dry, undamaged wood as soon as they run out of their top food choice.
Spotting carpenter ants in your home is the easiest method of determining that you have an infestation. They prefer damp locations, so you may find them in the kitchen or bathroom. You might also notice winged ants or discarded wings. Carpenter ants will leave small holes in the wooden structures of your home and property, as well as small piles of sawdust leftover from their drilling. Any of these signs are warnings of a carpenter ant infestation.
If you think you have a carpenter ant infestation, contact Big Blue Bug Solutions today to get the help you need. Let our professionals take care of all your pest control needs. They know how to eliminate current infestations and safeguard your home from future invasions as well. Whether you are looking for carpenter ant specific solutions or a broader year-round pest control plan, give us a call today!
