In forests, carpenter ants use their mandibles to chew into wood that is dead or damp, performing a helpful service by making use of decaying trees.
However, carpenter ants may move into residences and commercial structures. Capable of causing widespread structural damage, carpenter ant infestations deserve serious attention.
Carpenter ants target buildings that have moldy or wet wood. Consequently, any structures that have former or ongoing moisture issues are vulnerable to infestation. The chances of such an infestation only increase if the building's exterior has any cracks, gaps or other tiny openings. Carpenter ants are known to use outdoor pipes and wires as well as branches to get into buildings, even in spots that are well above ground level.
Unfortunately, getting rid of carpenter ants is not as simple a task. It is likely that these ants are scouts that are foraging indoors for food or a suitable nest. Alternatively, these may be the workers that are following the pheromone trails laid down by the successful scouts.
Whether the property owner is seeing scouts or workers, it is essential that they act quickly to address the problem. Carpenter ants do not go away on their own, and the longer the infestation persists, the worse the damage becomes. A pest management professional is critical to ending carpenter ant infestations and ensuring that they do not happen again.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS LOOK LIKE?
In the spring, people may notice large, black, winged insects that are swarming either indoors or out. These are the reproductive swarmers of the colony. After mating, the females lose their wings and look for a new place to establish a nest.
The females are now queens, and their sole responsibility is to produce more carpenter ants. Queens are about one-inch long and may be black, brown or red.
Carpenter ant workers are the colony members that venture outside the nest seeking food. Black is the most common color for workers, though some may be red or multi-colored. When a colony is mature and successful, it develops major and minor workers that may be identified by their size. A minor worker measures approximately three-eighths of an inch while major workers are about one-half inch.
WHERE DO CARPENTER ANTS LIVE?
After mating and shedding her wings, the queen finds wet or damaged wood in which to nest. She seals herself in and begins producing the first generation of her new nest. When this behavior happens in rotting logs and stumps, it does no harm. Unfortunately, carpenter ants are adept at finding dead or wet wood in man-made structures that may include fences, decks, railings, siding, outdoor and indoor furniture, joists and wooden building frames.
It is common for the queen to establish an outdoor nest, but if her colony is successful, satellite nests eventually will be required. These are far more likely to be located somewhere within a structure. Any wood on a building that touches soil is the perfect invitation to carpenter ants to build a satellite nest. Frequently, such nests are found in basements, wall voids or within door frames.
Carpenter ant nests can be extremely well-hidden and difficult for people to reach. This is one of the reasons why it is critical to work with an experienced exterminator who has equipment and knowledge that make locating nests much easier.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS EAT?
When they see the damage that carpenter ants cause to wood, many people assume that the insects are eating wood. This is true for termites, but carpenter ants chew up wood fiber and expel it as frass, and it offers them no nutritional value. Like other ant species, carpenter ants eat sugar and protein. Their need for sugar is met by eating honeydew while the colony also eats huge numbers of insects, which means that they provide a natural type of pest control.
Carpenter ants love to eat food that is intended for people or pets. Jam, jelly, honey, sugar, syrup, meat and dog or cat food are particular favorites.
CARPENTER ANT DAMAGE
Property owners may not particularly care if carpenter ants infest a woodpile or some unused lumber. However, when carpenter ants come indoors, they create nests in wood that is damp and rotting. Any buildings that have water leaks or have damaged wood from an earlier water leak are especially likely to have problems with carpenter ants.
Members of the species are skilled excavators, making their tunnels smooth and clean. The network of tunnels becomes larger and more complicated the longer the infestation continues. As they excavate fibers, these waste products are pushed out of the tunnel through access holes. This causes accumulations of piles of frass on the ground or floor.
In the early stages of an indoor nest, the damage may be negligible. However, this situation does not last. Persistent and determined, carpenter ants can build galleries and tunnels without stopping, eventually causing extensive structural damage.
ARE CARPENTER ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Carpenter ants prefer to be in dark, dank places that are little used by people. Bites may happen, but carpenter ants certainly do not go out of their way to attack people. Instead, their appetite for destroying wood is this insect's most aggressive characteristic.
DO CARPENTER ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
If a person is bitten by a carpenter ant, it will not transmit an illness. Still, it is possible for people to become sick when they are exposed to carpenter ant infestations.
Food poisoning cases tend to rise when carpenter ants infest buildings. This is because these pests are skilled at seeking out any crumbs, spills or improperly stored food. Surfaces and food that is contacted by carpenter ants is immediately contaminated, and exposure to these contaminants can make people sick.
Moreover, people who have allergies, asthma or other respiratory ailments may notice that they suffer more symptoms during an infestation. This is largely owed to the frass that may be released into the air by carpenter ant tunneling. Tiny irritants are picked up by HVAC systems and redistributed through the building, causing breathing issues.
HOW TO DETECT CARPENTER ANTS
Signs of a carpenter ant issue include:
• Large, black ants encountered indoors • Swarms of black flying ants in the spring • Rustling sounds detected behind walls
HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS
To help prevent a carpenter ant issue the following precautions should be taken:
• Prevent foliage from touching buildings • Fix water leaks • Replace damaged wood • Paint or stain wood • Use good food storage techniques, including containers that keep ants out
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.
