Unlike other ant species, carpenter ants excavate wood to make galleries. These ants come in different shades and can be identified by their bent antennae and pinpoint waistlines. If you have these ants in your home, you may encounter worker ants that need to forage for food and expand their nest. These ants consume mainly honeydew or other insects. Also, carpenter ants create their homes in weakened or old wood. Usually, their ideal spots are moist where fungi thrive. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Rather, they hollow out tunnels, which can compromise a home’s structural stability over time. If you are wondering if you have a carpenter ant infestation in your home and want to eliminate them, reach out to professionals at pointepest.com. These professionals can identify the type of ants you are dealing with and address the issue promptly.
How to Know Carpenter Ants Have Infested Your Home
Carpenter ants tend to leave a trail of evidence behind. This includes the following:
- Sawdust piles. The presence of frass indicates a carpenter ant infestation. Frass is the coarse sawdust that ants make while tunneling through the wood. Usually, the sawdust is a combination of ant parts and wood fragments. They are usually found near nest entrances.
- Rusting sounds in walls. A rustling noise, especially at night can be heard in a quiet setting if carpenter ants are infesting your home. This sound is made as the ants work inside the wood. This indicates the presence of a nest nearby. Also, this sound tells that some pests are compromising your home’s structural integrity.
- Visible ants. Finding one carpenter ant in your house is a cause for concern because it may be a scout for a bigger ant population. Usually, worker ants travel along established trails. They can be found at corners and crevices.
- Swarmers. During spring and summer, colonies of carpenter ants produce swarmers or reproductive. Finding these winged ants indicates a growing issue as they will start new colonies.
- Hollow-sounding wood. Tap on various surfaces around the house to determine the wood’s health. If a part of the wood sounds papery or hollow, carpenter ants may have compromised it.
What Damages Do Carpenter Ants Cause?
Although carpenter ants do not cause serious home damage as termites, they pose a threat to your home’s integrity. They can cause the following damage:
- Structural harm. As carpenter ants hollow out wooden components such as joists and beams, they can weaken structures. Eventually, this can result in safety concerns, particularly in load-bearing areas.
- Weakened surfaces. Hollowed-out wood loses strength and can be weakened, increasing the risk of failure or collapse.
- Wood debris. Sawdust indicates that your house has been damaged. When left unchecked, more sawdust can build up.
Carpenter Ant Prevention and Control
To protective your home against carpenter ants, below are steps you can take:
- Control moisture. Carpenter ants like damp environments, so minimizing moisture in and around the house can prevent them from infesting your home.
- Get rid of food sources. Protein-rich and sugary foods attract carpenter ants. Storing these foods in airtight containers can discourage the presence of these ants. Also, you can make your home less inviting to them by cleaning up crumbs and spills right away and eliminating water sources.
- Sealing entry points. As carpenter ants can enter your home through small cracks and crevices, seal these entry points with appropriate material such as caulk.
- Keep vegetation trimmed. Trees and shrubs should not be allowed to touch your house. Carpenter ants can use them as a bridge to your home. So, trim vegetation regularly and keep it away from your home’s structure.
