Ants are a common problem during the summer months. They seem to be everywhere. When you find them in your home, however, the natural response is to find the source and get rid of them. This is especially true for ants that can cause major damage to your home, carpenter ants. Not taking care of this type of ant as soon as you see it, can mean trouble for your home. A-Tex Pest Management would like to help you identify and avoid a carpenter ant infestation.
Carpenter Ant Identification
Carpenter ants are one of the largest ants in the United States. They range in color from brown to black and measure between ¼ to ½ inch long. Carpenter ants are social insects and live in colonies. They build their nests in decaying wood. When spotted in nature, away from any wooden structure, they actually play a key part in breaking down old, decaying wood into beautiful, rich soil. If you see carpenter ants away from structures, you should leave them alone because of their role in nature. Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants don’t consume wood. They build their nests in it, and for this reason, they don’t cause damage as quickly as termites. It takes more time for carpenter ants to cause major structural damage, but the sooner you take care of the problem, the better.
Signs of Carpenter Ant Infestation
There are multiple signs that accompany a carpenter ant infestation. Those signs include:
• Visually Seeing Ants- If you see a trail of large ants, they could very well be carpenter ants. If you see swarming ants that enter your walls through cracks or holes, you most definitely have a problem.
• Piles of Sawdust- If you see piles or trails of sawdust where carpenter ants have bored holes into wood in order to build their nests, this is a sure sign.
• Hollow Wood- When you tap on a piece of wood only to find it sound hollow, you could be dealing with a carpenter ant problem.
• Rustling Sounds- When carpenter ants are busy at work inside the wooden structure of your home, you can often hear them rustling around in there.
How to Avoid Carpenter Ants
When trying to avoid carpenter ant infestations, you should take some precautionary measures. Those include:
• Trim the trees and shrubs around your home. There shouldn’t be any trees or shrubs touching you home, because this can be a way for carpenter ants to easily access your home.
• Store your firewood away from wooden structures and up off the ground.
• Eliminate sources of excess moisture. Carpenter ants are attracted to decaying wood or wood that has been damaged by water. It is easier for them to build their nests there. Avoid leaky pipes, and other ways that moisture can cause damage and attract carpenter ants.
• Keep your eating areas neat and tidy. Carpenter ants are attracted to sweet, greasy, and oily foods. It is important to keep your dining areas clean and avoid crumbs and spills that sit for long periods of time.
Ant Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you fear you have a carpenter ant infestation, it is imperative that you call a professional right away. It is almost impossible to get rid of a carpenter ant infestation on your own. A-Tex Pest Management offers trained technicians that can take care of any carpenter ant infestations you may have. Call us today!
