As the owner of a residential home or a commercial business you have probably experienced ants in or around your property. Some species of ants are more of a nuisance than anything else but others are more than capable of causing extensive damage to the structure of your home. Carpenter ants cause damage that is similar in nature to that of termites and the two are often mistaken. The major difference however, is that the termites ingest the wood while carpenter ants remove the wood to make room to build nests.
How Do I Know if it’s a Carpenter Ant?
Carpenter ants can grow in size to up to an inch in length and are most often black or red in color but can also be a combination of both colors. If you see large black ants around your home or business, they are probably carpenter ants. Contact your pest control professional to determine if you are dealing with a carpenter ant or termite problem. Carpenter ants eat dead insects and plant secretions along with human food and they have a particular fondness for sweets and meats. Since carpenter ants eat dead insects, it may indicate that you also have a secondary pest problem. If you have seen any winged ants, these are referred to as swarmer’s and are reproductive ants. They are most often seen with well-established colonies that are outgrowing their previous colony and are out looking to expand and create new colonies.
Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation in Your House
On of the tell-tale signs of a carpenter ant infestation are small wooden holes in structures. These small openings are used by the ants to crawl through to gain access to their nests. You will find a small pile of sawdust below these openings. When ants infest your property they are looking for nearby food sources, warmth and safety. If left to their own devices, carpenter ants can cause permanent damage to the support structures within your home.
How Do You Repel or Prevent Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants can be extremely difficult to remove without professional assistance. If you suspect you have a carpenter ant problem or a termite problem you should contact the professionals at A-Tex Pest Management for immediate identification. Once your pest control specialist has identified carpenter ants, our first task will be to locate the nest. Once the ants have been treated and the nest destroyed, we will provide you with some valuable tips to help you from experiencing future infestations including:
• Eliminating future food sources by storing food in tightly sealed containers
• Repairing any damaged screens
• Ensuring that door sweeps are working correctly
• Repairing holes around outside walls, and cracks around pipes, vents and air conditioning units
• Clearing away rotting trees and piles of wood from your yard
Ant Pest Inspections, Control & More in Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park & Austin Texas
If you have discovered ants in or around your home, contact the experts at A-Tex Pest Management to schedule your inspection. Our technicians will work with you to quickly eliminate your ant or other pest problems. Also ask about our year-round pest management and control programs designed to protect your home from annoying, damaging, painful and potentially dangerous insects, arachnids and rodents. Call us today!
