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 ants aren’t just a nuisance – they can also cause expensive damage to your home.
CARPENTER ANT DETAILS
Wondering if your home has been infested by carpenter ants? Here are some helpful hints for identifying these pests.
- 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 ants are polymorphic, which means that they can change their behavior and appearance based on their environment. They have one queen, which worker ants all work to support.
In the first year of a colony’s establishment, it doesn’t have many worker ants. However, this number can grow quickly, especially after ants start reproducing.
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. Unfortunately, their appetite for wood is not so useful when they’re burrowing into your woodwork.
If you suspect that you have a carpenter ant infestation, check any wooden components of your home, inside and out. Also take a look at any standing water near you. Outdoor and indoor water sources and leaking water can all attract these ants.
ARE CARPENTER ANTS DANGEROUS?
While they are on the larger side, carpenter ants are not dangerous to humans. They are not venomous. It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll be bitten by one, but if you are, 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.
Even worse, the holes that carpenter ants create in your home can invite in other pests. They make an appealing spot for burrowing insects.
If you spot signs of carpenter ants on your property, give H2 Pest Control a call. This is a problem you don’t want to leave untreated!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CARPENTER ANTS AND TERMITES?
Both carpenter ants and termites 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, which makes it difficult to spot them. They are sometimes undetectable until a significant amount of damage has been done.
On the other hand, 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. If you see any mounds of fine dust piling up, you’ve found the entrance to a carpenter ant nest. While ants 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. Inspect firewood for ants and other insects before you bring it into your home.
- Fix leaking outdoor taps that can act as a water source for pests. Watch out for indoor leaks, too.
- Remove potential nesting sites by replacing wooden flower bed borders with stone.
- Get rid of crumbs, open food, and unsealed food containers. Make sure that your food is put away and properly sealed, and clean your kitchen regularly.
Professional Help For Carpenter Ants
If it’s too late to prevent ants 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 of Salt Lake County and Utah County, we can identify and treat your carpenter ant problems.
Call us today and let us know about your ant problem. We’re here to support you as you reclaim your home and eliminate pests from your life!
