When you think of ants, you probably think of ruined picnics, itchy bites, and anthills taking over your backyard. What you probably don’t think of is structural damage to your home and thousands of dollars spent in repairs. But if your Lincoln, CA, home has a carpenter ant infestation, these could be issues that you quickly must deal with. Learn the four signs of a carpenter ant infestation in your home, as well as what you can do to prevent them, from the pest control experts at Pro Active Pest Control.
All About Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are larger than most ants you will see on your property. They're typically between ½ and 5/8 inches long, and they are red, black, or a combination of red and black in color. These destructive ants prefer to nest in wood that is wet or has been previously damaged as a result of moisture. This includes around window and door frames, in areas around bath tubs and sinks that may leak, and in crawlspaces under roofs.
Carpenter ants get their name from the way they build their nests, burrowing through wood and form smooth tunnels inside it. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood, they only chew through it to tunnel and create nests. These nests contain colonies that will continue to grow in size unless they are treated. Some colonies have been found to have as many as 50,000 ants.
Four Signs Of Carpenter Ants On Your Property
Carpenter ants can be hard to spot in your home. The signs of an infestation are usually subtle, and rarely seen on the exterior of your property. Especially in the summer months, when these pests are most active, it is important to be on the lookout for these four signs of a carpenter ant infestation so you can stop it early:
The presence of large ants in your home. Although carpenter ants are similar in color to a typical red or black ant, their large size distinguishes them from other types of ants.
Soft rustling noises in your walls. These noises are made by carpenter ants as they burrow into your home's wood to create nests.
Discovering piles of wood shavings in your home. These piles are especially common around wooden areas like door jambs and baseboards.
Finding shed wings in your home. These wings are dropped by swarmers, the breeding carpenter ants, near windowsills, baseboards, or vents after they find a mate.
How to Prevent Carpenter Ants
You don’t just have to watch for signs of carpenter ants and hope they leave your house alone. There are some steps you can take to help prevent these pests from visiting your home:
- Eliminate water sources around your home, including quickly fixing leaking pipes or HVAC units.
- Seal any cracks in your home’s walls or foundation.
- Keep trees and plants away from your home.
- Keep mulch at least nine inches away from your home, with a stone barrier between the mulch and your foundation
- Keep firewood away from any structures on your property.
These are important things you can do around your home to help control carpenter ants, but the best thing you can do is schedule regular inspections and treatment with the professionals at Pro Active Pest Control. These regular services will identify areas that could be causing a carpenter ant problem, help solve the problem in those areas, and prevent them from coming back in the future with regular treatment. Trust the 100% Service Guarantee from Pro Active Pest Control to help treat and prevent carpenter ants in your home.