Carpenter ants are responsible for thousands of dollars in damage to homes and businesses across Philadelphia every year. Unfortunately, much of this damage goes undetected for too long. This is because carpenter ants tend to live underground where they are difficult to see.
The good news is that an experienced exterminator knows even the subtlest signs of a carpenter ant infestation and is prepared to take immediate action to address the problem. With their assistance, it is possible to get rid of carpenter ant colonies with speed and efficiency.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS LOOK LIKE?
Carpenter ants are insects with six legs and a pair of antenna. It is most common to see carpenter ants that are black, though some people may see red carpenter ants or members of the species that display more than one color.
Their size is one of the most striking things about the appearance of the carpenter ant. Typical adults may measure anywhere from six to 18 millimeters in length, placing them among the largest ants in the region. Queens are even larger, with some of them reaching 20 millimeters or more.
WHERE DO CARPENTER ANTS LIVE?
Carpenter ants live in large nests that may include thousands of individuals. These nests are created by burrowing into wet, damaged or rotting wood. Accordingly, carpenter ants perform a useful service in the wild as they reuse and help to break down a stump or a fallen tree.
However, when carpenter ants establish nests in woodpiles, yard debris piles, fences, decks and outdoor furniture, they begin to cause widespread destruction. The damage only gets worse if the pests establish a nest inside a structure. These are most likely to be found in attics, basements, crawl spaces, beneath bathroom floors, in wall voids or under kitchen sinks.
WHAT DO CARPENTER ANTS EAT?
Rather than consuming wood, carpenter ants eat a diet of sugar and protein as do many other ant species. Honeydew from aphids and scale insects provides the sugar, and protein is obtained from insects both living and dead, which means that carpenter ants are a form of natural pest control.
With their dietary emphasis on sugar and protein, carpenter ants are at home in kitchens. Meat, bread, pasta, baked goods, fruits, vegetables, syrup, honey, jam and a wide variety of other foods all may be consumed. Additionally, carpenter ants will infest and eat pet food.
CARPENTER ANT DAMAGE
Whether carpenter ants establish a nest within a structure or nearby, it signals the beginning of a tremendous headache for the property's owners. This is because these insects have a particularly keen sense of smell. Accordingly, they can forage for food far and wide, and kitchens offer a reliable source of nutrition for the whole colony.
Any food that is contacted by carpenter ants is no longer safe for human consumption. Moreover, any surfaces across which the ants walk must be disinfected before being used. Food poisoning may be the result if these steps are not followed.
It also is worth noting that large, successful carpenter ant colonies are known to establish satellite colonies around a parent colony. This means that when one nest is present, it may not be long before others begin to appear. The opportunities for this pest to damage property have just multiplied.
This damage can be particularly extensive, especially when the colony is established within a structure. Hollow doors, wall voids, windows and foam panels all are vulnerable to nesting behavior by carpenter ants. Typically, wood that is already damp or damaged is preferred, so the damage is only exacerbated by the infestation.
ARE CARPENTER ANTS AGGRESSIVE?
Though carpenter ants have powerful jaws and may inflict bites on people and pets, such attacks are rare. In fact, most people do not see carpenter ants, especially early on in an infestation. It is only when the colony grows larger that the problem becomes noticeable. Still, aggressive behavior is rare.
DO CARPENTER ANTS CARRY DISEASE?
This species is not known to transmit diseases to people. Nonetheless, they may bite or sting if they feel that their nest is under attack. Wounds caused by a carpenter ant bite rarely are serious, though some people may have an exaggerated allergic reaction that is unpleasant.
It is more common for carpenter ants to be responsible for cases of food poisoning. This pest infests food that is intended for human or pet consumption. As they search for food to eat or take back to the nest, carpenter ants leave behind a host of germs, bacteria and filth. This is attributable to the pest's tendency to walk through sewers, garbage cans, animal carcasses, streets, basements and other unsanitary places.
If people consume food that has been contaminated by carpenter ants or prepare food on surfaces that similarly are contaminated, then they may become ill with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and others.
People who have asthma or allergies have an additional reason for concern, and even people who do not have these ailments may find that they suddenly have respiratory problems. All of these symptoms are caused by the carpenter ants' habit of tunneling into wooden structures.
This tunneling releases tiny dust particles that may be captured by heating and cooling systems. These systems distribute the particles in the indoor air, causing an increase in respiratory ailments.
HOW TO DETECT CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ant control may be required when homeowners notice these signs:
• Tiny piles of sawdust next to foundations or inside attics, basements and crawl spaces • Swarms of flying black ants, especially in the spring • Finding damaged wood somewhere on the property • Discovering a water leak • Seeing small holes in wood
HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS
It may be possible to prevent carpenter ant infestations with these measures:
• Trim back trees, bushes and plants so that they do not touch or overhang structures • Fix leaks in plumbing, drainage and irrigation systems upon discovery • Eliminate standing water from the property • Correct moisture issues inside structures, especially basements and crawl spaces • Look for and seal cracks in foundations • Store firewood piles at least 20 feet from buildings • Do not allow wood to touch the soil • Paint, stain or treat all wood on the property
HOW TO TREAT FOR CARPENTER ANTS
Proper carpenter ant treatment involves the detection and elimination of all existing nests, including that of the main colony and all of the related satellite colonies. Failure to accomplish this will often result in re-infestation.
Additionally, the complete eradication of carpenter ant populations is typically not possible with most do-it-yourself products.
As such, successful carpenter ant eradication should be left to a professional ant control provider.
Here at Newtown Termite & Pest Control we take ant control seriously. For this reason, we utilize a multi-faceted treatment process, which includes sprays, dusts, along with strategic drilling and sealing.
When implemented by our experienced technicians, our comprehensive treatment plan will work to ensure that your home remains free of carpenter ants.
