Signs you might have Carpenter Ants.

Carpenter ants can enter your home and you might not even know. Here are some things to look for.

Carpenter ants prefer to reside in moist, decaying, or hollowed wood, common near forest environments. They burrow through wood leaving traces of frass (like sawdust) behind and target trees, interior beams, joists, porches, garages, sheds, barns, etc. Ants can even follow along the branches of trees or wires and get to the upper levels of your home rather than coming in from ground level.

If a main nest is in a tree or other structure in your yard, rest assured scouts will be exploring your home looking for food, water, and a place to build satellite nests. Even a cottage house has enough wood to support a medium to large sized colony with several satellite nests around house. Carpenter ants are social insects with hierarchical relationships. Each ant has a specific role and all ants fulfill their roles, creating a productive colony. They can communicate with their own form of ‘text messaging’ called pheromones.

Pheromones are chemicals scouts release when they discover a source of food or water. It calls more ants that then build a secondary nest. Water is a major draw for ants because with a steady supply of H2O a colony can survive on a surprisingly small amount of food. Damp basements, pipes that drip or leak, faucets and showers, shifting water tables, and leaky roofs can all attract ants. And then, of course, there’s crumbs. Teenagers that eat in their bedrooms are a best friend of ants.

HOW TO REMOVE CARPENTER ANTS

Perimeter protection and coverage against travel zones is important in stopping an infestation from damaging property. Carpenter ants setup nests and satellite nests in the fall before going dormant. By the time they become visible in the following spring there are already two generations at work eating away your home or business. To the untrained eye, a termite swarm and an ant swarm can often be confused as the same thing though the cost to your home will be very different.

When you see ant activity on a garage, a porch, or even a large tree in your yard it is prudent to have a professional make sure they have not already gotten into your home. Although attempting to self-treat an ant problem can seem tempting, store bought varieties of do-it-yourself pest control are not regulated the same way that registered control agents available to certified professionals are. This means we are able to deliver faster results and a more effective treatment than over-the-counter options.

Call us today at 401-270-3374 for a free inspection and to discuss treatment options available to you.