Property owners across Levittown need to be aware of the threat that carpenter ants present. Infestations that are allowed to continue for months or years can wreak substantial damage to wooden structures.
The black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is the most commonly encountered species of carpenter ant in Levittown and throughout the northeast.
Carpenter ants are an insect species that live in sizable colonies that may number in the multiple thousands. They will establish satellite nests when the main nest becomes overcrowded, causing the problem to escalate with surprising speed. However, because carpenter ants tend to operate in spots where people do not often go, they have time to inflict massive amounts of damage before the property owner is aware of a problem. A carpenter ant inspection for any Levittown home or business is the first step toward eradicating a population of these pests.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Worker ants are the most commonly seen members of the colony. Despite living in the same nest, these workers may be of varying sizes. Some are only three-and-a-half millimeters long while others are as long as 13 millimeters. Coloring may be similarly diverse. Red and black are common, but some carpenter ants are dark brown, yellow or feature a combination of colors.
Carpenter ants have a heart-shaped head and a rounded thorax. When carpenter ants reach reproductive age, they have light brown, transparent wings. Females eventually shed their wings when they become the queen in a new colony. The queen tends to be a bit larger than most workers, and she is rarely seen outside the nest.
WHERE DO CARPENTER ANTS LIVE?
Main or parent nests typically are established in rotting tree stumps or within the root system of a tree. A deposit of logs or boards lying on the ground also may lead a colony to establish a nest. However, when carpenter ants find rotting, wet or otherwise decaying wood in buildings, they will establish colonies there. This wood may have been made vulnerable through a leak in the structure's plumbing or because of poor air circulation. Accordingly, nests that are located inside buildings may be found near bathrooms and kitchens where dampness tends to gather. Inside attic beams and beneath roofing are other common places to find carpenter ant nests. Some colonies are established beneath subfloors or in hollow spots like curtain rods and doors. Wall voids and soffits similarly may be used. If wood touches the foundation of the building, this can become a nest as well.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS EAT?
Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants do not feed on wood. Protein and sugar are actually the staple items in the carpenter ant diet. Food sources in the outdoor world include insects both living and dead as well as honeydew, which is a liquid that aphids and scale insects secrete. When carpenter ants forage for food indoors, they find much to tempt them. Cookies, candies, jelly, honey and syrup are frequently sought in pantries. This pest also is attracted to any meat that it encounters, and pet food is another attractive option.
CARPENTER ANT DAMAGE
As carpenter ants construct a nest within wooden structures, they cause significant damage. They chew through wood, leaving behind a trail that looks like sawdust as they craft galleries in which to live and feed their young. Each tunnel is smooth and polished, with occasional windows through which the carpenter ants can dispose of debris. The larger the population of carpenter ants is, the more destruction they are able to cause. This is why early detection and treatment are critical. Otherwise, extensive structural repairs may be required.
ARE CARPENTER ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Carpenter ants are far more aggressive toward wood than they are toward people and pets. Nonetheless, carpenter ants do have powerful jaws, and they are capable of biting. In fact, their jaws are strong enough to break the skin, after which the ant may spray formic acid into the bite. This is designed to cause additional pain, as carpenter ants only bite when they feel threatened. Generally speaking, most bites occur when an infestation is particularly large, making routine carpenter ant inspections especially desirable.
DO CARPENTER ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
Unlike many other pests, carpenter ants are not known to carry diseases. However, they may contaminate human and pet food with feces, saliva and urine, which can cause food poisoning. Some of these cases can become severe, requiring medical intervention.
HOW TO DETECT CARPENTER ANTS
The following signs may indicate the presence of carpenter ants:
• Spotting large ants inside or outside buildings • Seeing winged ants flying in and around structures • Discovering piles of sawdust or "frass" that are left over from carpenter ant tunneling • Sounds of rustling or crinkling coming from behind walls • Discarded wings found on the ground or inside structures
HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control we advise implementing the following proactive measures to help prevent a carpenter ant problem in your Levittown home or business:
• Store firewood well away from structures • Trim shrub and tree limbs so that they do not contact buildings • Place door sweeps on all doors that lead outside • Keep window and door screens in good repair • Look for and seal all foundation cracks with caulk • Fix leaks in plumbing and irrigation systems without delay • Store food in airtight containers • Keep kitchen surfaces free of crumbs and liquid spills
HOW WE TREAT FOR CARPENTER ANTS
Treating a carpenter ant infestation is no easy task, particularly without specialized knowledge and equipment. That is because correctly identifying the pest as carpenter ants is critical.
Moreover, without professional intervention it is virtually impossible to achieve complete carpenter ant eradication, since 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 ant control provider.
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control we recognize that carpenter ants can be a serious problem for any home or business owner. 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 Levittown home or office remains free of carpenter ants.
