Carpenter ants are known for the fact that they build their colonies inside wood. Unlike termites, they will not actually consume the wood, just use it as a medium for their colonies. This means that if you keep an eye out, you can spot them when they’re out foraging, and they are quite easy to spot – they are large black ants.
How dangerous are carpenter ants
Carpenter ant colonies all start with a lonely swarmer. Swarmers are winged ants that are part of the reproductive caste. They are spawned by mature colonies, and they fly out in the hundreds or thousands in order to start nests of their own. Most of these swarmers will not be successful, but a handful may be able to start a nest.
Carpenter ant swarmers will target wood, but since a colony starts with just one swarmer, it can take a while for it to grow large enough to do serious damage to the home. Over time however, if the colony is not stopped, it can grow to serious proportions, to the point where it threatens the structural integrity of the home.
How to prevent carpenter ant infestations
Carpenter ant colonies are usually started in wood that is soft and decaying. This type of wood can show up in the home in areas with high humidity, so the first step to preventing carpenter ant infestations is removing excess moisture from the home. You then want to make sure that you do not leave any food out in the open for too long and that you keep your food in sealed containers. There are also chemical prevention methods such as baits, residual insecticides and broadcast treatment insecticides which can be used effectively.
Getting rid of a carpenter ant colony
In most cases, a pro will use baits to get rid of a carpenter ant colony. Then once the colony is gone, the pro can also implement some prevention methods to lower the odds of a future reinfestation.
So to conclude, if you see large black ants in your home, you should act fast and get in touch with a pest control company as soon as possible. Carpenter ant infestations can cause serious damage if they are not removed.
For more information on how to deal with carpenter ants, or if you have an infestation in your home, contact us today.