Carpenter ants are a pest that no homeowner ever wants to find in their home. If they are left to their devices, they can end up causing significant damage to your home. They are a wood destroying insect which is in the same category as termites. While they may not actually eat the wood they are infesting, they still hollow out structures as they build their nests. The fact of the matter is, carpenter ants, if given enough time, can cause the same kind of damage that a colony of termites can. A-Tex Pest Management is here to talk about carpenter ants so that you can avoid them in your home.
Carpenter Ant Warning Signs
Just like termites, there are several signs that are most likely present when you are dealing with a carpenter ant infestation. Knowing what these warning signs look like, is your first step in keeping them out of your home. Because they build their nests within the structure of your home, sometimes these signs can be hidden which adds a whole other level of challenge. Here are some of the signs that you should be on the watch for in your home.
– Ant Sightings: Carpenter ants are the largest ant species in this country. They are hard to miss as some of them can be up to ½ inch long. Because they don’t eat wood and will be leaving their nests to find food, you may see them every now and then. If you see a carpenter ant in your home, there are more where that ant came from. It’s time to call a professional.
– Tiny Holes/Sawdust: These ants leave behind something called frass, this is a mixture of sawdust and feces. Sometimes this may seem like a natural thing to find around your home, and it can often even resemble just a small pile of dirt or sand. If you ever see frass around your home, you have a problem that needs to be dealt with.
– Winged Ants: Seeing a flying insect inside the windows of your home may not seem like something you should be alarmed about. Winged ants are definitely something that should alarm you as it is likely means there is an infestation somewhere. Sometimes these ants can be mistaken for wasps, so next time you see a winged ant, take a closer look.
Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
When you see that there are signs of carpenter ants in your home, it may be tempting to purchase some pesticide from your local grocery store to try and combat them. While the topical pesticides may kill the few ants that are visible to you, it isn’t doing anything to kill the colony within your walls. This is when you need to call on the professionals at A-Tex Pest Management for help. Call us today!
