Widespread in the United States, carpenter ants build their homes in damp, decayed wood both inside and outside. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t feed on the wood; they merely hollow it out to build their nests. This hardworking species of ants cut destructive paths through the wood grain, removing wood shavings to outside of their nests in small piles known as frass. Spotting a pile of shaving is a clue to their presence.  When baiting outdoors, check trees, wood piles, decks, fencing, and even adjacent buildings for signs of carpenter ant activity. Treat the perimeter of your home and especially the yard, since carpenter ants can travel long distances in search of food. Be sure to treat regularly to keep foraging ants from entering your home. Carpenter ants nest in moist wood under decks, on porches, around windows, inside roofs, and in other areas which are exposed to the weather. These pests seek protection from predators and the weather, as well as easy access to sources of food. These pests feed on other insects, both alive and dead, as well as plant nectars and juices, honeydew, syrup, jelly, sugar, salt, fruits, meat, grease, and fat.  Renowned excavators, carpenter ants use their powerful jaws to loosen and remove wood debris when tunneling or building nests. This means chewing through wood in the home, and hollowing out decorative and structural material, causing huge damage. When they chew on the wood, they also discard the shavings, which pile up like sawdust beneath the entrance hole of the nest. How Serious Are Carpenter Ants? Cosmetic & Structural Damage When carpenter ants build nests, they dig out tunnels in wood, weakening it from the inside. A long-term infestation with multiple colonies in a home often means serious structural damage and unsightly cosmetic damage. Signs of an Infestation. Workers and swarmers (winged ants) are the most likely sign homeowners observe. Workers: The workers may be observed foraging for food. Swarmers: Swarmers usually are produced when a colony matures and is ready to form new colonies. These winged individuals often indicate a well-established.

Updated October Carpenter ants may be one of the most valuable insects we have on earth. They chew carpenter ants on wood deck usa tons of wood and turn it into fine sawdust that rots, providing compost for new environmental growth.

However, when they enter man-made structures they are considered a highly destructive yet common pest. As is the case with termites, carpenter ant infestations often go unnoticed until it is a costly situation to correct.

The damage caused by carpenter ants is distinct although it is often confused with termite damage. While deeck feed on the cellulose found in the wood, carpenter ants excavate galleries or tunnels in decaying wood.

Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants do not actually eat the wood. Qnts, they hollow carpenter ants on wood deck usa out in order to nest inside, which may result in structural damage. Also unlike termites, carpenter ants generally take years to cause significant damage.

A carpenter ant infestation within a building usually means that there is a moisture problem. For instance, these critters are often found around dishwashers, sinks, farpenter areas, and bathrooms — especially where plumbing leaks. Taking care amts the source of that moisture makes the structure less attractive to the ants. Carpenter ants can infest building materials such as wood or foam insulation and can occupy cavities like those found in hollow doors or window frames.

The first step in resolving a carpemter ant infestation is to xarpenter the nest. The best indicator will be areas where you find the sawdust that is created when the ants dig out their tunnels.

Depending on where the nest is located, you may simply wiod able to remove it. If not, you can still remove the ants from the nest with a vacuum cleaner. Afterwards, make sure to dispose of the bag in order to prevent the ants from getting loose and returning.

Also, keep in mind that a mature nest may have carpenter ants on wood deck usa nests located nearby, which will need to be carprnter and destroyed as well in uda to properly resolve the infestation. You can help prevent a carpenter ant infestation by applying some of these simple tactics around your home or building structure:. Pest management professionals will often routinely treat the exterior perimeter of the building in order to control a nest or protect the structure from carpenter ant foraging.

This process of drilling and treating can be highly effective if nests are able to be pinpointed. Keep in mind that the materials used can only be applied by a trained pest management professional. To properly resolve a carpenter ant infestation requires residual insecticides and void injections of insecticide.

This treatment typically requires all occupants and pets to vacate the building for a given period of time. The company should conduct a thorough and complete inspection that provides you with the location of the nest s or at least a probable nest site prior to treatment.

Locating the nest is not always easy, so practice patience. However, as long as all nests are found and treated, it is unlikely that additional services for carpenter ant control will be needed.

Skip to content Tap here for instant service: Zip Code. Got Carpenter Ants? Carpenter Ant Damage As is the case with termites, carpenter ant infestations often go unnoticed until it is a costly situation to correct.

Resolving A Carpenter Ant Infestation The first step in resolving a carpenter ant infestation is to locate the nest. This keeps ants wod using the branches as a pathway Woo carpenter ants on wood deck usa a gravel or stone strip around your home Store firewood away from your house and up off the ground Check for signs of ants before bringing firewood inside Store food in tightly sealed containers and clean the kitchen regularly Clean clogged gutters in order to prevent water damage Remove logs, stumps, and wood near or under capenter structure Make sure crawl spaces and attics are well ventilated The wooden parts of porches and decks should not be in contact with the ground.

Use dsck pier blocks underneath these to eliminate other possible entrance paths Immediately fix any leaks in the roof or plumbing carpenter ants on wood deck usa Treating For Carpenter Ants Pest management professionals will often routinely treat the exterior perimeter of the caroenter in order to control a nest or protect the structure from carpenter ant foraging. Or call us at E-News Sign Up.

Carpenter ants have become a widespread problem throughout the Eastern United States. They make their nests in damp, dead wood and create tunnels so they can easily navigate through the structure. Carpenter ants are small but the damage a colony can cause is not. What happens if your home or business becomes infested with carpenter ants? While many insects might invade your home, few will cause a homeowner to panic more than the wood-destroying carpenter ants. This particular ant species will damage the wood around your house by tunneling and nesting inside the wood. Carpenter ants like to nest in wall voids, hollow doors, beams, cabinets, and structural lumber. Carpenter ants usually forage during the night Carpenter Ants On Wood Deck 75 so it is recommended that you apply the bait just before sunset on a night when rain is not expected. As the carpenters ants forage they will pick up the bait and take it back to feed the colony. Over a few weeks, the colony will be .

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