Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants
When tackling an ant infestation, it’s useful to know what type of ant you’re dealing with. Utah is home to many species of this little insect, one of which is the carpenter ant.
Carpenter Ant Details
- Carpenter ants can be quite large, growing up to ½” in length.
- They are usually black, sometimes with a reddish-brown thorax.
- They have a set of noticeable antennae.
- Carpenter ants that are part of the breeding cycle have wings.
Carpenter Ant Habitats in Utah and Salt Lake Counties
Carpenter ants like moist, woody areas, meaning that they’re at home both in forests and, unfortunately, inside your home. They get their name from the fact that they chew through wood to make their nests, although they don’t actually eat it. In a forest setting, this is useful in helping to break down dead trees but it’s not so useful when they’re burrowing into your woodwork.
Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?
While they are on the larger side, carpenter ants are not dangerous to humans. They are not venomous and while it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be bitten by one, it won’t cause you any harm.
The real danger lies in the damage they can do to your home. An infestation of carpenter ants chewing and burrowing through structural supports can severely weaken them, causing damage and potentially a collapse. If you spot signs of carpenter ants on your property, give H2 Pest Control a call.
What’s the Difference Between Carpenter Ants and Termites?
Both carpenter ants and termites are insects that love wood. Both are also bad news if they take a liking to your home’s timber. Termites actually eat the wood they’re living in, making it difficult to spot them, sometimes not until a significant amount of damage has been done. Carpenter ants push out the wood they’re burrowing through, leaving sawdust-like piles known as “frass”. This is a telltale sign of a carpenter ant infestation so if you see any mounds of fine dust piling up, you’ve found the entrance to a carpenter ant nest. While the ant will generally take longer to do the damage that termites can, no infestation should be left untreated.
How to Prevent Carpenter Ants Infesting Your Home
There are some things you can do to stop a carpenter ant invasion before it starts:
- Cut back overhanging branches that can act as a bridge between your yard and residence.
- Keep piles of firewood a good distance from your home.
- Fix leaking outdoor taps that can act as a water source for pests.
- Remove potential nesting sites by replacing wooden flower bed borders with stone.
If it’s too late to prevent the insects from getting into your home, the best way to remove them is to call a professional pest control company like H2 Pest Control. Serving all across Salt Lake County and Utah County, we can identify and solve your carpenter ant problems.