Do you know if carpenter ants are at work in your Warminster area home or business? If it's been more than a year or two since you had a pest inspection, then this can be a difficult question to answer.
People who ensure that they receive routine inspections have the benefit of peace of mind. They know that they don't have any pests. Even better, they know that if carpenter ants start invading, they already have an experienced professional who can nip that problem in the bud.
Why are carpenter ants such a concern? It's because this species causes widespread property damage. Keep reading to learn more about these pests and how you can work with an exterminator to protect your home or office.
ABOUT CARPENTER ANTS
These large ants are found all over the world, but there is a dense population of them in the local region. This is why it's critical to take preventative measures against infestations.
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WHAT ARE CARPENTER ANTS?
This is one of the most feared ant species. It's not because of painful bites or the risk of disease. Instead, carpenter ants are feared because they damage wood.
The natural habitat of the carpenter ant is the forest where a colony nests in a rotting stump or fallen tree. However, carpenter ants may nest in fences, decks, railings, wooden doors or wall voids, causing damage that can be difficult and expensive to fix.
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WHY ARE CARPENTER ANTS DESTRUCTIVE?
Carpenter ants are wood destroying insects. Several species of these are found across the globe, with termites being the other well-known species. Termites are known for eating wood, but carpenter ants don't engage in this behavior. Instead, they build their nests within wood, using their mandibles to create galleries and tunnels.
Carpenter ants build their nests in difficult-to-reach places so that people don't even know they are there. Accordingly, the colony has time to grow and expand its nest. Mature carpenter ant colonies can cause excessive amounts of damage.
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ARE CARPENTER ANTS DANGEROUS?
Most people don't consider carpenter ants dangerous because these pests rarely bite people. Nonetheless, if you consider the colony's ability to weaken the structural integrity of your home, then it's easy to see these pests as a threat.
The best way to protect your home is to have a qualified pest control technician perform regular inspections and treatments.
CARPENTER ANT IDENTIFICATION
How do you know you have carpenter ants? Proper identification is essential to having the right control treatments performed. Fortunately, exterminators are trained to identify the signs of a carpenter ant infestation.
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WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Worker carpenter ants measure from between six millimeters and 12 millimeters in length. Unlike other ant species, carpenter ants have one node rather than two at their waists. A rounded thorax, instead of one that is unevenly shaped, is another defining characteristic of the carpenter ant. The majority of carpenter ants are black. However, certain subspecies may display some reddish coloring.
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HOW TO TELL CARPENTER ANTS FROM REGULAR ANTS
Are you dealing with carpenter ants or another species like little black ants or acrobat ants? The best way to tell is by the size of the ant. Carpenter ants are much bigger than any other species that is commonly found in the local area. Most other ants reach a maximum length of about three millimeters while the carpenter ant may measure between six and 12 millimeters.
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HOW TO TELL CARPENTER ANTS FROM TERMITES
Carpenter ants and termites are capable of causing severe damage to your home. Additionally, both species are known to swarm in the spring when mating. These are just a couple of reasons why people sometimes mistake one species for the other.
To tell the two apart, look at the insect's abdomen. If there is a "waist," then it is probably a carpenter ant as a termite has a rectangular body shape without a defined waist. Another observation point is the insect's antennae. Carpenter ants have bent antennae while a termite's antennae are straight. Color is another distinguishing characteristic. Worker carpenter ants are black or reddish-black, but worker termites are creamy white or light colored.
SIGNS OF A CARPENTER ANT PRESENCE
Carpenter ant infestations frequently occur out of sight. This means that an infestation may persist for years before it's discovered. The colony is causing damage all the while, making regular pest control inspections a critical part of routine home maintenance.
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HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE CARPENTER ANTS
Oftentimes, the first time people realize that there is a problem is when they actually see the ants inside their home. Because carpenter ants do not eat wood, this means that they will forage for food in the kitchen. Additionally, a mature colony produces winged reproductive ants in the spring, so a swarm is a telltale sign.
As the colony burrows further into the wood, they must shove wood shavings out of holes made for this purpose. If you see small accumulations of wood shavings somewhere in or around your house, this is a sign of an infestation.
Additionally, an industrious carpenter ant colony frequently makes rustling noises behind the walls that they inhabit.
CARPENTER ANT SEASON
At certain times of the year, your family is more likely to be disturbed by carpenter ant activity. If you notice any signs of an infestation, then it is wise to act fast to bring it under control.
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WHEN ARE CARPENTER ANTS ACTIVE?
Carpenter ants become active in the spring, usually between March and April when a mature colony produces winged reproductives. Activity remains strong until September or October when temperatures begin to drop. Colonies frequently become dormant in the winter. However, a nest that is located in a warm house may be active throughout the year.
CARPENTER ANT HABITS
The more you know about carpenter ant habits, the better you will be able to know when your home is in trouble.
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WHERE DO CARPENTER ANTS HIDE/NEST?
Typically, a main or parent carpenter ant nest is located outdoors in a tree, stump or log. This is where the queen lives with her larvae and pupae as well as workers. Large, well-established colonies also utilize satellite nests containing more workers as well as some of the older larvae and pupae. Satellite nests are more likely to be located close to or inside a home. The nests are excavated into the wood, consisting of clean, smooth tunnels that may run either against or with the grain.
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WHEN DO CARPENTER ANTS COME OUT?
Carpenter ants overwinter in their nests, huddled in a group and mostly sleeping while surviving off of fats that were stored in their bodies in the fall. As temperatures warm in the spring, they awaken and begin foraging for food. This is when the mature colony will produce reproductives. Carpenter ants are more likely to be active during the day when temperatures are warm. Cool nights may make them lethargic.
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WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS EAT?
Carpenter ants tend to be predators, getting most of their food from other insects. Pet food, sweets, vegetables and fruits also are on the menu. The colony needs a steady source of water as well. This may be obtained from a sink, shower, dishwasher or pet water bowl.
CARPENTER ANT TREATMENTS & REMEDIES
Using the right kind of treatment is critical to control. Work with a licensed exterminator to get it right the first time.
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WHAT KILLS CARPENTER ANTS IN THE HOME?
A variety of control measures may be used, depending upon the extent and maturity of the infestation. For instance, bait may be used on known carpenter ant trails, and it also may be possible to use a spray as a perimeter treatment. Voids that are occupied by carpenter ants may be treated with a dust or foam.
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WHAT KILLS CARPENTER ANTS NATURALLY?
Families frequently are interested in natural carpenter ant treatments. Unfortunately, this isn't always the best method because many of these treatments don't eliminate the queen.
One of the most popular of these is to make a solution of two parts water and one part dish soap. Place the solution in a spray bottle, and spray it on any ants that you see. An alternative method is to mix a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar.
However, unless scent trails are eliminated and the queen is destroyed, the ants will continue to be a problem.
CARPENTER ANT PREVENTION
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WHAT ATTRACTS CARPENTER ANTS IN A HOME?
Carpenter ants seek out wood that is soft and has a high moisture content. This wood is easier to excavate. Eventually, they move on to harder wood, and they may tunnel into insulation and plastic as well.
Carpenter ants also are attracted by the presence of poorly stored fatty or sweet foods and water. Any plumbing or irrigation leak is inviting an infestation.
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HOW TO FIND WHERE CARPENTER ANTS ARE COMING FROM
It may be possible to locate the nest by following a trail of ants from a food or water source back to their colony. Alternatively, examine any damp or damaged wood on the property as well as rotting stumps and fallen trees.
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HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS
Steps like repairing water leaks and storing food only in metal or glass containers with lids can go a long way. Block off access points like gaps or holes in the home's exterior that the ants may be using. Also, don't let trees and shrubs contact your home's exterior and get rid of any damaged wood.
HOW WE TREAT FOR CARPENTER ANTS
Proper carpenter ant treatment involves the detection and elimination of all existing nests, including that of the main colony and all of the related satellite colonies. Failure to accomplish this will often result in re-infestation. Additionally, the complete eradication of carpenter ant populations is typically not possible with most do-it-yourself products.
As such, successful carpenter ant eradication should be left to a professional pest management provider.
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control we take ant control seriously. For this reason, we utilize a multi-faceted treatment process, which includes sprays, dusts, along with strategic drilling and sealing.
When implemented by our experienced technicians, our comprehensive treatment plan will work to ensure that your home remains free of carpenter ants.
