Mastering Carpenter Ant Pest Control: Tips from the Experts

There are ants — and then there are carpenter ants. If you see one, you’ll know. Not only are they among the largest ants in the U.S., they can be quite destructive. Keep reading to discover important information about carpenter ants, including how to spot them, how to protect your home from them, and how to get rid of them if they find their way inside.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carpenter Ants

Before you can master carpenter ant pest control, you need to understand what you are dealing with. Here are the most frequently asked questions our expert technicians get about carpenter ants.

1. How did carpenter ants get their name?
Carpenter ants get their name from the way they build nests. They use their strong jaws (mandibles) to remove wood and form tunnels in the wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not consume wood. But that doesn’t mean they don’t cause structural damage, which is both dangerous and expensive to fix.

2. How do I identify a carpenter ant?
Here is a helpful chart noting the important characteristics of a carpenter ant.

Learn more: Carpenter Ant Pest ID

3. What attracts carpenter ants to wood?
Carpenter ants are attracted to excessive moisture. Most carpenter ant queens start a nest in decayed or water-damaged wood. That’s why carpenter ant problems are often found when homeowners are doing maintenance or remodeling.

4. How big are carpenter ant colonies?
A carpenter ant nest can contain thousands of ants as well as smaller satellite colonies containing fewer ants. These satellite colonies can be found anywhere. The presence of winged ants (a swarming) indicates a mature colony close by.

5. What kind of damage do carpenter ants do?
Carpenter ants pose a significant threat to properties, causing structural damage by excavating wood to build nests. And unfortunately, insurance companies often won't cover damage resulting from the ants, such as damaged walls, floors, or ceilings.

Expert Carpenter Ant Control Tips

Now that you have a good understanding of carpenter ants, here are tips to control them:

• Preventive Strategies: Implement preventive measures to seal entry points and address moisture issues that attract and sustain these pests. Perform regular checks on your pipes, gutters, and other areas around your home that accumulate water or moisture. As with all pests, keeping firewood stored at a safe distance and trimming hanging trees and shrubs away from your home are both smart practices.
• Thorough Inspections: Assess your home to identify entry points. If you suspect a nest, think twice about spraying on your own. Often, spraying workers won’t take out the queen, and you may only end up splitting the nests. If you think you have an infestation on your hands, it’s always best to call in a professional to assess the extent of the problem.
• Targeted Treatments: Working with a proven pest control company like Ford’s Hometown Services will give you access to specialized treatments that specifically target carpenter ant colonies while minimizing environmental impact.