Carpenters are known for building things, not destroying them, but nobody told that to carpenter ants. These large ants can cause damage to the wooden objects and structures in your home, not to mention causing stress and anxiety. So, if you want to prevent carpenter ant problems in Waldorf, there are four signs you ought to look out for.
About Carpenter Ants
Of all the home-infesting ants found in the United States, carpenter ants are the largest. An average carpenter ant measures about ½ inch in length and is either solid black or a combination of black, brown, and red in color. They have an appetite for sugar and protein, making your home the perfect place to grab a bite.
Carpenter ants have powerful mandibles which they use to chew through wood. But unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t actually eat wooden materials. Rather, they hollow out wooden structures to build their nests. Carpenter ants typically nest in damaged or damp wood and are rarely found in dry wood.
Four Signs Of Carpenter Ants
- Carpenter ant workers: Carpenter ants will travel up to 300 feet from their colony in search of food. They are avid explorers and can often be spotted around the home. Sighting a carpenter ant might not necessarily be a sign of infestation in your home, but it certainly means there is an infestation nearby.
- Winged carpenter ants: While spotting a carpenter ant worker isn’t a sure sign of infestation, seeing winged carpenter ants in your home definitely is. When a colony has reached maturity, carpenter ants will send out winged reproductives. Seeing winged carpenter ants emerging indoors means that there is a large, established colony on your property.
- Wood shavings: As carpenter ants build their colonies, they expel the wood they excavate, resulting in piles of grainy wood shavings accumulating on the ground beneath them. This discarded material can resemble sawdust and is often found near windowsills and baseboards.
- Rustling noises: If you’ve noticed any faint rustling noises in your walls or other wooden segments of your home, it could be a sign of carpenter ants. As they hustle to construct the maze-like galleries of their nest, they tend to make a racket.
How To Prevent Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants get indoors by either squeezing through cracks around doors and windows, wiring, or foundations. They can also enter your home by boring through damaged or wet wood. Overgrown hedges, shrubs, or trees making contact with your home can also provide an entrance. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to prevent carpenter ants.
- Remove or repair damaged wood. Get rid of any rotting logs or fallen trees in your yard. If you have noticeable damage to wooden siding, doorframes, or window sills, try to repair the damage or replace the wood entirely.
- Keep food out of reach. Store your sugary snacks in airtight containers and always keep a lid on your garbage bin. Clean up after you cook and eat, making sure that you wipe down all counters and tables for food scraps as well as floors.
- Reduce moisture. Repair any leaking pipes or fixtures around the home to prevent moisture from building up. Open the windows often to ventilate your home and reduce humidity. Ensure that gutters are clear and draining water properly.
If you’ve spotted any signs of carpenter ants on your Waldorf property, don’t wait. Get in touch with Mike’s Pest & Termite Control right away. When you choose our home pest control services, we’ll listen to your concerns and work with you to develop a plan that fits your unique situation. Whether it’s carpenter ants or any other pest, we’ll eliminate your problem for good. Get in touch with us today to request your free inspection.