Date Posted: June 30, 2016
Category: Carpenter Ants, Maine Pest Control
Living in the Northeast, we tend to have more months in the year that are cold rather than warm. For some people this is a joy; for others it’s a long countdown to wait to see the groundhog in February. This cold weather tends to draw in unwanted pests that are seeking food and warmth. Ants are one of the most common pests to enter into your home. If you have spent any time at all living or having a business in Maine, you have seen a carpenter ant or two scurrying across the floor. These ants are very smart, and their life’s purpose is to forge for food and to build nests.
Carpenter ants are pretty easy to identify. They are all black, all red, or both. They are on the larger size and average 1/8 to ½ inch in length. The most common appearance of carpenter ants is a big black ant roaming around your floor boards or countertop. They are a very basic ant, but a very important one to the nest. Since their job for the ant colony is to forage food, they will also leave a trail so that they can get back to their nest and ‘tell’ other ants where food can be found.
So, let’s say you have never seen an ant in your home. There may be some other signs you will come across that should raise a red flag that you have an ant infestation. If you come across small holes in the structure of your home, this is an opening where an ant has gone in and built a nest. There will also be a small pile of sawdust below the opening. Since the carpenter ant has decided to venture into a part of your home, this means they have found a satellite home comfortable to them and close to a food source. Once there is a nest made, this can also trigger a new colony, especially if the trail back to their original colony has been compromised.
Getting rid of a carpenter ant infestation is a very difficult task and one that should be given to professionals. Most people try to use ‘at home’ methods and sprays to eliminate these ants. While this is a very temporary solution, using sprays and other products will only make the problem worse. When an ant makes a trail into your kitchen and you spray that area, it erases their marking trail to return to their colony which forces them to try and establish a new one which could be in your cozy, warm home. The key to eliminating carpenter ants is to find the source, which most likely is an entry point from the outside. Try to eliminate areas that can become attractive to ants such as food left uncovered or spills that are not cleaned up.
The first step that needs to be taken when you suspect an ant infestation is to contact a professional to find out the entry point for the ants and what they may be attracted to. For over 75 years Big Blue Bug Solutions has been providing effective and professional pest control services. We place your satisfaction first, and our job is always guaranteed. Whether it’s your home or business that has become infested with carpenter ants, contact Big Blue Bug Solutions, and let us show you why our testimonials are full of praise for a job well done.
