Carpenter Ants: Avoiding A Personal Plague

Depending on where you live carpenter ants can be a major pest. These critters invade your home, your yard, and generally make your life miserable. While their bite is not as menacing as the fire ant, and the damage they do to your home is not as substantial as the termite, there's no question that they make a formidable enemy. When confronted with such an enemy you need the right army to back you up. And in this case, the best defense you can muster is the accumulation of information. Here's what you should know about this dark menace and what you can do about it.

Most carpenter ants you see will be either black or some shade of reddish black. They are medium in size, ranging from a quarter inch to three quarters of an inch in length. Any ant larger than that is probably either a different species or the queen of the colony. It is easy to confuse the female of the species with termites as they come equipped with similar wings. However, anyone familiar with the size of the two species can see that termites are typically much smaller.

Carpenter ants can be seen year-round, but it is unusual for them to make an appearance during the winter months, especially in colder climates such as the Northeast. However, just because you don't see them during the cold months doesn't mean they aren't there. It is entirely possible that they are digging themselves deeper into your home, creating problems that you may not see for years. Problems that would be much easier to nip in the bud now, costing you far less money in home damage and pest control costs. If you see a carpenter ant problem in the summer and you did nothing to take care of it, you can bet they'll be back when the warmer weather returns.

Given enough time, carpenter ants can destroy your home as surely as the most voracious termite. They tunnel through the wood of your home to find places where they can nest and breed. If the wood is damp, they will seek it out, as it's much easier for them to bore through damp wood than dry wood. This is one of the reasons why it's so important to take care of leaks in your roof and in your home. Not only can it cause damage to the wood, but it can also invite carpenter ants and other pests to make a home where you least want them. If you see warning signs such as the ants themselves, wood shavings, or pest activity inside your home, contact a pest control specialist right away and have them do a full inspection.