Though they may not be quite as destructive as termites, the carpenter ants that invade structures in Bensalem still may represent a significant monetary loss for industrial, commercial and residential property owners.
Most ant species that are found in the local region are relatively harmless. They cause occasional bouts of food poisoning and are annoying when they engage in their determined marches across tables and counter tops. Carpenter ants may exhibit these behaviors, but they have worse habits. As their name suggests, they are adapted to burrow into wooden structures.
This burrowing frequently takes place in locations that are not obvious to casual observers. A basement or crawl space may host a carpenter ant infestation for years without the building's owner being any the wiser. By the time the signs of the infestation are noticed, the structural damage is severe.
Accordingly, sensible property owners engage a licensed pest control company to perform regular inspections of the building and the surrounding land. These inspections are prime opportunities to recognize the early signs of a pest problem. The technician who performs the inspection alerts the customer to any conditions on the property that make it more vulnerable to infestation by carpenter ants and other common problem species.
Regular inspections and treatments protect buildings from severe structural damage. While costs are incurred for pest control services, they are minimal when compared with the expense of repairing a building that was seriously undermined by carpenter ants.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Scientists categorize carpenter ants as a polymorphic species, which means that the workers are of different sizes. It is common for carpenter ant workers to be between 3.4 and 13 millimeters in length. Coloration also can be quite varied, though black is the most common color. Some carpenter ants are red, yellow or dark brown.
When a carpenter ant colony has been established for two or more years, it is considered mature. It is at this stage that the colony begins producing winged ants of both genders. These colony members are capable of reproduction, and they are equipped with wings for this purpose. Consisting of hind wings and forewings, these transparent appendages are an integral part of the mating process. In the spring, the male and female reproductives will swarm, mate and begin establishing nearby nests. The female loses her wings and becomes the queen of the new colony.
Under magnification, pest control professionals look for certain characteristics to ensure proper identification. These characteristics include a circle of hairs around the anus, a heart-shaped head and a relatively flat, angular thorax..
WHERE DO CARPENTER ANTS LIVE?
Almost anything made of wood can be transformed into a nest for a carpenter ant colony. Either dry or moist wood may be utilized, though most colonies show a distinct preference for wood that is wet most of the time. Accordingly, any wood in a structure that is being dampened by a water leak is particularly vulnerable to infestation. Structures that have poorly sealed door or window frames, damaged chimney flashing, a leak in the roof or leaky drains in sinks or bathtubs are more likely to look attractive to carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants are fairly clever about the damage that they cause. Frequently, much of the destruction is confined to the interior of the wood. A technician who is checking for the signs of a carpenter ant problem may tap on a piece of wood with the handle of a screwdriver. If this produces a hollow sound, then an infestation is probably underway.
Carpenter ant colonies may establish both indoor and outdoor nests. Most colonies begin with an outdoor parent nest. These nests may house a mature colony consisting of a queen, approximately 2,000 workers and her brood of young. Such a large colony may begin building satellite nests that are intended for use only by workers. These satellite nests are more likely to be located indoors, though it is possible for a structure to house a parent nest as well. When carpenter ant nests are located outside, they are likely to be found in landscaping timber, a pile of firewood or a tree stump.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS EAT?
Because carpenter ants cause damage to wood in structures, people frequently believe that these pests actually eat the wood. Although this is true with termites, carpenter ants do not get any nutritional value from wood.
Like many other ant species, carpenter ants need protein and sugar. Outdoor sources of these items include insects and honeydew.
Carpenter ants may come indoors seeking food or a place to nest. Kitchens, pantries, cafeterias and dining rooms are excellent places for these foragers to find plentiful food. Any edible item that contains either sugar or protein will be exploited. Some of the most commonly sought foods include honey, sugar, syrup, jam, jelly and meats.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY CARPENTER ANTS
When a property owner sees a suspected carpenter ant or the signs of damage caused by an infestation, it is never a good idea to conclude that the sighting is merely an isolated incident. Where one carpenter ant is seen, thousands more are likely to be present. With much of the destruction happening in basements, crawlspaces and beneath bathtubs and sinks, it is likely that the problem is far more widespread than the property owner imagines.
By the time carpenter ant infestations are discovered, it is not unusual for the building to require thousands of dollars in repairs. When carpenter ant problems in Bensalem are ignored, the building can become structurally unsound.
While carpenter ant damage is not always obvious, property owners may want to be on the lookout for frass on the floor or around the foundation. Frass essentially is the sawdust that is left over from the carpenter ant's excavating activities. This may be one of the only warning signs that the property owner receives of the infestation.
ARE CARPENTER ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Carpenter ants are mainly aggressive toward the buildings and other structures, such as fences and decks, that they inhabit. The workers do have powerful jaws, and they are capable of biting people. However, such attacks are rare.
DO CARPENTER ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
In general, carpenter ants do not transmit illnesses to people. The exception to this is food poisoning.
Carpenter ants routinely are attracted to the foods that people keep in kitchens and pantries. When they infest these foods, they leave behind traces of bacteria and other contaminants and toxins. Should people ingest these contaminated food items, they could become ill. Certain segments of the population, such as those with compromised immune systems and the elderly, are especially at risk for developing complications associated with food poisoning.
HOW TO DETECT CARPENTER ANTS
Signs of a carpenter ant infestation include:
• Carpenter ants seen in kitchens, pantries and dining areas • Rustling noises heard behind walls • Hollowing out of wooden components in a building • Frass found around foundations or on floors
HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS
To help prevent ant issues the following steps should be taken:
• Fix water leaks upon discovery • Repair or replacing any wood on the property that was damaged by water • Eliminate yard debris and firewood piles • Ensure that decks and fences are painted, stained or treated to make infestation less likely • Using caulk or other fillers to get rid of gaps in building exteriors • Trim foliage so it cannot touch building exteriors
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.
