Carpenter ants get their name for their ability to excavate wood to build their nests. Although they do not eat wood, they do chew through it to form smooth tunnels and create their nests. Naturally, they can be incredibly destructive when they make their way into your home. A professional pest control company can help you get rid of these pests, but you still need to act fast when you suspect that you have a carpenter ant infestation in your home.
What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
Carpenter ants are usually between 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch long, making them slightly larger than most ants that you might see in your home. Most carpenter ants that you find in North America are black, but red and brown ants are also common.
Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?
Carpenter ants aren’t very dangerous to humans, but a large infestation can weaken the structural integrity of your home. They do have powerful jaws that are capable of delivering a painful bite, but these bites are rare and don’t pose a serious health threat.
How Do You Know If You Have Carpenter Ants?
The most telltale sign of a carpenter ant infestation is the presence of the worker ants themselves. Otherwise, you might see small openings surrounded by debris on wooden surfaces in your home. This debris usually consists of sawdust-like wood shavings, bits of insulation, and parts of insects.
Carpenter ants also prefer wood that has been softened by fungus, so you’re more likely to have a carpenter ant infestation if you’ve had issues with mold or moisture in the past.
How Do You Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?
Since carpenter ants need water to survive, you can prevent infestation by removing sources of excess moisture or standing water in or around your house. You can also trim back trees and shrubs that are growing too close to your home, keep piles of firewood away from your home, and seal any gaps that could serve as entry points for the ants.
If you suspect that you already have a carpenter ant infestation, your best course of action is to contact a professional pest control company to assess the situation and decide the best course of action for pest removal. Insecticide sprays designed to kill ants, roaches, and other insects are often effective in killing carpenter ants, while poison bait is usually a good long-term solution.
Getting to The Root of The Problem
Part of getting rid of carpenter ants means getting rid of the root of the problem – the nest. This often isn’t as easy as it sounds, as nests as often found amid walls, windows, and high-moisture locations such as sunrooms. The nests can often be tucked in difficult-to-reach locations, where it may be necessary to drill an access hole to fully expose the nest.
Call ASAP Pest Control for Professional Carpet Ant Removal
If you’re a home or business owner in London, Ontario or the surrounding area, and you believe that you have a carpenter ant infestation in your home, contact ASAP Pest Control today. We serve homeowners throughout the region and our team can come to assess your infestation and develop a targeted strategy for commercial or residential pest removal that is designed for your individual needs.