Ants are everywhere. Their nests are in our yards, their workers are in our kitchens, and their queens are laying eggs by the hour. The question is, which ones are a threat to your home? Are the ants crawling around in your kitchen carpenter ants? If you do not know, we are here today to help you find out. Here is everything you need to know about carpenter ants so you can keep them out of your Eureka home.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
Fortunately, carpenter ants are not like other ants. They are easy to identify by their appearance. Why is this? Because they are bigger. In fact, carpenter ants are the biggest species of ants here in America. Growing to be upwards of 12 mm long, and known for having black and red bodies, carpenter ants are not too difficult to identify. The problem is, they don’t always come inside. Sometimes carpenter ants will build their nests deep into the wood of a home and then forage for food outside. If this is the case for your home, you will have a much harder time identifying a problem.
One thing you should know about carpenter ants is that they do not eat the wood they build their nests in. Their diet mainly consists of sugars such as honeydew, sweet liquids, and scale insects. Carpenter ants can feed on proteins as well.
Problems Carpenter Ants Cause
Carpenter ants do not build their nests underground beneath hills as other ants do. Instead, they use their strong mandibles to tunnel their homes out of wood, hence their name. Very often, the wood they choose to build their nest out of exists within homes. This is when problems arise. As carpenter ant nests grow within homes, severe structural issues can occur.
When inside homes, carpenter ants can cause problems as they scavenge for food. If food is left out on a counter top or table, it can be contaminated by hungry carpenter ants. Even stored foods can be ruined if carpenter ants can gain access to them.
How You Can Prevent Carpenter Ants
A number of factors can make a home more accessible and attractive to carpenter ants. Here are some practical ways you can address these factors to make your home less attractive to these wood-destroying pests.
Address leaky piping and fixtures around your home.
Make sure your gutters are properly channeling water away from your home’s exterior foundation.
Use a dehumidifier inside your home to keep humidity down.
Repair or replace water-damaged, rotting, or decaying wood around your home.
Seal gaps and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation, using a caulking gun.
Avoid using wood-based mulch in your garden or around your home.
Store woodpiles and other wood products at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
Store leftover food inside airtight containers.
Clean inside regularly.
Pick up and clean pet food and water bowls after they are done using them.
Why You Need Professionals To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are nearly impossible to eliminate on your own. Even if the method you are using is working, there is no way to know for sure without cutting into your home’s wood where carpenter ants are active. To ensure your home has the best protection against carpenter ants, Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions has your back. With our team of expert pest technicians in your corner, you will never have to worry about carpenter ants causing trouble around your home.
Give us a call today to find out more about carpenter ant control or to schedule an inspection for your Eureka home.