Carpenter ants are pests often mistaken for termites due to wood-boring behaviors. These bigger species burrow into wooden structures and cause property damage. To learn more about these pests and the impacts of an infestation, keep reading:
How Carpenter Ants Behave
Carpenter ants make their homes in wood, dig tunnels to maneuver, and search food sources. These pests do not eat wood; instead, they just chew and discard it. Due to the structural damage they cause, they are considered the most problematic pests a homeowner can deal with. You will know you have carpenter ants on your property through the holes they make in the wood when they burrow.
For carpenter ants to survive, they need a source of water. That is why they mainly target dead, damp, or rotting wood. They can easily dig into this wood and get a source of moisture. When present outside, they may make nests in fence posts, tree stumps, landscaping, or firewood. Indoors, carpenter ants are found digging into crawlspaces, damaged door frames and windows, sinks, old wooden siding, and chimneys.
How a Carpenter Ant Infestation Occurs
Usually, carpenter ants find their way into your house through wall gaps and holes. You may see them marching on hanging tree branches, mulch, electrical wires, and firewood piles. Once they invade your house, they can start causing damage without being noticed. Although carpenter ants like to dig in moist, rotting wood, they can start an infestation even if your home’s wooden parts are not old or rotting. So, pay attention to wood parts of your house such as railings, exposed support beams, and decorative trim to make sure carpenter ants have not damaged them.
In addition, because of the tolerance of carpenter ants to outdoor elements, they can easily get around and look for new wooden structures to burrow into. Usually, an infestation can start outdoors in a fence or tree, then spread indoors when they discover a weak spot.
If you are currently dealing with a carpenter an infestation, contact a pest control expert as soon as possible. The earlier you involve a pest control service the sooner you can save your home from possible damage these ants may cause. Pest control professionals will also give you tips to prevent future infestation. These tips include ensuring all wooden structures on or near your house is in great condition and repairing or replacing them when necessary. An expert with extensive experience in handling carpenter ant issues knows the appropriate solution to use for the specific infestation you are facing.
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