Why Carpenter Ants Are A Hazard To Your Property
Why Carpenter Ants Are A Hazard To Your Property
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There are small harmless ants that get a crumb or 2 from your cooking area floor. However, there are extra savage ants that are bent on ruining your house from the inside and out. These are bigger carpenter ants that can wreak havoc on your foundation. Allow's learn more regarding them below:
Just how to Banish the Infestation?
It's not simplistic to kill ants due to the fact that they establish swarms. They have soldier ants that scout for food as well as worker ants that comply with the path. On top of that, the ant queen stays behind in the nest to procreate as well as multiply. Therefore, this is what you have to do to eliminate the carpenter ants:
If you do not intend to deal with all that inconvenience, the very best option is specialist bug control. Even if you efficiently do away with a carpenter ant nest, you might have much more hiding elsewhere. Calling a credible insect control company can assist you eliminate the bugs as well as stop them from coming back.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
Actually, they got their special name because they like to chomp down on timber from your home's structure to your furniture. Although they do not consume timber the way termites feast on wood; they eat on timber. They also excrete hazardous stuff to lead the way for countless carpenter ants in their colony. Yikes!
These ants are also larger, determining 1/2 inches to ? inches in dimension. Unlike termites, where the significant warning sign is their droppings, carpenter ants damage the timber, leading to random fragments comparable to wood shavings. When you see this, specialist insect control support remains in order.
How Do They Invade Your Building?
Carpenter ants gravitate to damp timber as well as moldy ones. Hence, if you have actually got a leakage or wetness trouble throughout your residence, these ants will penetrate that area. They can easily eat their means into your house when the timber is pliant and soft.
Additionally, they can also enter into your residence by means of fractures, openings, or spaces. Any tiny opening where they can squeeze via can be an entry point. It matters not where they are because the ants can climb through the wall surface, pipelines, cables, and even a branch. Once they settle inside, they like to set up their nest near water sources, so watch out for these areas:.
How To Identify and Get Rid of Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants may not eat the wood they chew, but they can still cause a lot of damage to your home. Got carpenter ants? Here's what to know.
What Is a Carpenter Ant?
Related to bees and wasps, a carpenter ant (sometimes referred to as a flying ant) is a member of the Formicidae family of insects. Carpenter ants live in large colonies with workers, scouts and a queen. They can be found in wooded areas, suburbs and cities. They are one of the largest and most common ant species in the U.S.
To the untrained eye, carpenter ants and termites may look alike, but they are not the same insect.
What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
Here’s how to spot the difference between a carpenter ant and a termite:
Carpenter ants
Measure between 1/2-in. to 5/8-in.; Three body segments; Narrow waist between the abdomen and thorax; Large heads with elbowed (bent) antennae; A pair of wings (backs shorter than the fronts); Dark red, black, brown or a combination of those colors. Termites
Two body segments; Wings of equal length and longer than their body; A thick, unpinched waist; Straight antennae; Light in color or transparent. What Attracts Carpenter Ants?
The first line of defense against an invading pest is to understand what it likes and doesn’t like. Here are the main things carpenter ants are attracted to:
Food
Their main source of nutrition is honeydew excreted from aphids they farm. Carpenter ants also feast on the nectar of plants and small insects. Inside homes, they’ll happily eat protein and sugary substances left out on the counters and in garbage pails. In the yard, carpenter ants are drawn to the food in pet bowls and meat juices on barbecue grills.
Damp and dark places
Along with hiding in dewy, decomposing wood, you’ll often find carpenter ants colonizing behind dishwashers and air conditioning units, in the backs of moldy cabinets or around leaky pipes.
What Repels Carpenter Ants?
On the flip side, here is what carpenter ants hate:
Dry conditions
Carpenter ants need a water source to survive and thrive. Eliminating moisture in your home and standing water in the yard is half the battle.
Strong odors
Essential oils like lemongrass, peppermint, clove, cedarwood, tea tree and citrus disrupt their scent trails, leaving them dazed and confused. Do be aware that essential oils are not safe for pets, so don’t use them if you’ve got furry friends in your home.
Signs of Carpenter Ants In and Around Your House
Sawdust, insulation or wood shavings on the ground (extermination pros call it “frass”); Visible damage to wood (ruts or groves on the surface); Crackling sounds inside walls; Dead insect carcasses; Shed wings; Seeing the ants themselves. How to Clean Up Carpenter Ant Damage
If you’ve been seeing the signs of carpenter ants in your house, you know you have some clean-up to do. Use a shop vacuum to clean up any sawdust, insulation, or wood shavings the ants leave behind. Wipe down your surfaces, sweep, or vacuum to remove the shed wings and carcasses. And make note of any visible damage so that you know what all needs to be repaired.
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