Your Guide to Dealing with Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants strike fear into the hearts of all homeowners. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), carpenter ants chew through the wood in homes, compromising the structural stability. Most commonly found in cool, damp areas, an infestation of carpenter ants can lead to large amounts of structural and financial damage. They may not be quite as destructive as termites, but they come in a close second as they damage wood by hollowing it out for nesting.

They damage wood through the creation of tunnels where they can build their nests. They typically attack wet wood that’s been damaged by mold but they will also make homes in dry, undamaged wood too. They measure ¼ to ½ inch in length with red, black, or red and black coloring. In this country, there are nine types of carpenter ants.

The amount of damage the ants cause depends on the number of nests they have made inside the structure and the duration of their activity. If you suspect you have carpenter ants, it’s critical to find and eliminate those nests right away. That’s why you need the help of a professional exterminator. The infestation is too invasive and large to do it on your own.

Signs of Infestation

Carpenter ant nests, usually detected in damaged wood from leaks, like to make their homes in the wood around windows and doorframes, crawlspaces, chimneys, sinks and bathtubs. While you may not notice any obvious signs of damage, perhaps you may see some fragments of wood and sawdust that have begun to seep through cracks. That is a telltale sign of carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants form smooth tunnels inside the wood they’re excavating. No, they don’t eat the wood but they do chew through it to find a safe space for their nests. Those nests can grow quite large. In fact, the western black carpenter ant colony can reach between 10,000 and 20,000 workers, with some large colonies at about 50,000. Each colony features one wingless queen, with swarmers being produced once the colony reaches two years old. Those swarmers leave the nest in the warm months between May and August.

What You Can Do

To keep future infestation at bay, address all leaks within plumbing systems, roofs and drainage systems. Seal up any cracks in your foundation. Remove any wood lying near the house and store firewood piles well away from the home. Trim back tree limbs that touch your home to cut off their means of entry.

Home remedies are not recommended because they involve using boric acid or insecticides such as carbaryl, diazinon or chlorpyrifos. Needless to say, these are very dangerous to humans and pets. If you notice any of the above infestation signs, contact Cavanaugh’s Termite & Pest Services or fill out our online form. We will send a technician to visit your property and remedy the problem quickly and safely.

Commercial Exterminator Monmouth County - Exterminator Monmouth County