The list of reasons why carpenter ants want to get inside your home is short. The receipt for repairing the damage caused by them is much longer. Fortunately, Bay Pest Solution knows exactly why the ants invade, and how to help you keep them out. The first step is to identify the problem.
How To Identify Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are found in areas with decaying wood. They are usually black, but they can be any combination of black, brown, and red. They have segmented oval bodies with three legs on either side. Their size, ½ inch to ⅝ inch, will depend on their job within the colony. The flightless queens are the largest, and the males and winged swarmers are smaller. Colonies typically contain 10,000-20,000 workers, but can sometimes boast populations of up to 50,000 ants.
Identifying a carpenter ant infestation isn’t difficult. They burrow into wood to create nests for the queen to lay eggs. Their burrowing leaves narrow holes, usually in damp or damaged wood, and small piles of sawdust underneath and around the entrance are easily spotted. This damage may seem insignificant from the outside, but it can bear devastating consequences.
How Carpenter Ants Get Inside Your Home
Carpenter ants will routinely make their way into your home in search of food and/or shelter. They are enticed by proteins and sugars, such as other dead insects, crumbs, and pet food, and damp wood. They will secure their way in through cracks or other openings around your foundation or burrow their way inside. Once inside, they will wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home.
Damage Caused By Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants did not acquire their name during an apprenticeship on a building site. Destroyer ants would be a more appropriate name. When they gnaw their way into the structure of your home, they essentially hollow it out constructing tunnels to reach their nest. This damage may not be clearly visible from the outside, but some signs of this structural damage include:
- Sinking ceilings and floor that slope
- Sticking doors and windows
- Bulging walls
If you notice any of these signs of a carpenter any infestation, it is important to seek professional help right away. They will cause severe damage to the structure of your home and could prove incredibly dangerous to you and your family. Furthermore, while they aren’t carriers of disease or bacteria, they are a major food source for pests that do. Bats and spiders, including black widows, often feast on carpenter ants, and a carpenter ant colony will tempt them to your property. This introduces health risks and creates even more pest problems for you.
How To Protect Your Bay Area Property From Carpenter Ants
There are several ways to make your home less enticing to these tiny terrors. The best offense is a good defense, and being proactive will yield the best results.
- Sealing entry points will make it more difficult for carpenter ants to find their way in. Seal any cracks or openings in your foundations and around pipes and utility wires.
- Repair any moisture issues at the first sign. Damp wood and fungus attract carpenter ants and other pests to your home. Leaking roofs and plumbing issues are historically the culprits.
- Limiting access to food will make your home less inviting. Keep foods stored in airtight containers and keep crumbs off of your counters and floors.
Following this advice will help to keep carpenter ants away from your property and secure your home. However, if your home is exhibiting signs of an infestation, you need to find professional help before your home is reduced to a shell.
Because of the vast size of ant colonies, it is a challenging project to undertake on your own. With over 40 years of experience and expertise, the pros at Bay Pest Solution are the ones to call. We have a proven program that eliminates ant infestations and prevents them from coming back. Initially, we will conduct a thorough inspection to identify the problems, and then we will develop a customized treatment plan that suits your needs, including initial treatments and follow-ups.
Our customers are like family to us, and we are dedicated to providing you with the best service available. We will treat your pest problems like our own and help you to protect your home.