Ants might be a common home-invading pest, but that doesn’t mean they are a welcome guest. While no one wants to see ants in their house, carpenter ants are arguably one of the most bothersome species homeowners have to deal with. Unlike other ants, carpenter ants are known for their destructive behaviors and can cause structural damage to your house.
At Bugworks Termite & Pest Control, we have a team of carpenter ant exterminators who have been locating and eliminating these little bugs for years. We can help you keep these destructive pests away from your McAllen property by teaching you the secrets to successful carpenter nat removal.
Characteristics Of Carpenter Ants: A Guide To Accurate Identification
Our carpenter ant removal experts can usually identify this species at a glance. They are typically much larger than other species of ants and can measure up to 1/2 inch long. They usually have black or brown bodies but can sometimes have reddish-brown bodies.
If you are having trouble identifying a carpenter ant by appearance alone, there are other things you can look for, which include:
Location: These ants prefer to hang around areas with a lot of moisture. You will likely find these ants on your window sills, underneath your sink, or any other place with soft and moist wood.
Times of activity: While you are likely to see ants any time of the day, carpenter ants are usually the most active at night. If you notice that you only see ants around your home at night, you could be dealing with carpenter ants.
Flying ants: The reproductive ants are the only carpenter ants with wings. During the spring, some reproductive ants will fly away from their colony, look for a mate, and start a new colony. When they find a mate, they will lose their wings. If you find these small, discarded wings around your home or see these flying ants swarming around your home, you should schedule a professional carpenter ant inspection as soon as possible.
Nesting sites: Unlike other ants, carpenter ants don’t typically nest under the ground or in soft materials, like home insulation. Instead, they build their nests inside hard wooden surfaces. If you have a carpenter ant infestation, you will probably find small holes in the walls, support beams, and other wooden surfaces of your house.
Carpenter ants are social creatures that live in extremely large groups. Typically, a carpenter ant colony can have around 10,000 ants living together.
Carpenter Ants Do Not Eat Wood: They Just Chew It
Carpenter ants are often mistaken for termites. However, unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat the wood. Instead, they only chew the wood to create tunnels and a large living space for all the colony members. As they excavate the wood, they will spit out the wood and push it out the holes. Because of this, you are likely to see small piles of sawdust near the excavation sites.
If you see these small piles of sawdust or any other sign of an infestation, you should have a carpenter ant exterminator near you inspect your home to determine the severity of the infestation.
Preventing Carpenter Ants In The House: Best Practices
As previously mentioned, carpenter ants don’t like to eat the wood. They eat the same things most other ants eat. They are omnivores that like meats, fruits, grains, and other food types. To keep them out of your house, you must make all food sources inaccessible. You should place tight lids on your trash cans, keep pantry food in airtight containers, and sweep and wipe down your floors and countertops often to remove any food crumbs.
These ants also like areas that have plenty of moisture. When our carpenter ant extermination team finds these ants in a home, they usually also find water leaks in the house as well. Check all pipes and faucets in your home to ensure they are not leaking. If you find a leak, repair it immediately and replace any wooden surfaces the water has damaged.
Professional Ant Control: Eliminate A Carpenter Ant Infestation
A carpenter ant infestation can grow rapidly. Because these small insects live inside wooden surfaces, it can be challenging to locate them in your home. At Bugworks Termite & Pest Control, our carpenter ant pest control experts know how to find carpenter ants hiding in your house.
Give us a call today to learn more about our carpenter ant control solutions and become one step closer to keeping your McAllen home ant-free forever.