Carpenter ants require a variety of different materials to build homes. In some areas around the world, homes are made of mud and in others, stone. Here in America, our homes are mostly made out of concrete, brick, or wood, with wood being by far the most popular building material. This is both helpful and a hindrance. On the plus side, wood is extremely common and an easily replenishable natural resource. Using wood, however, is potentially problematic as many of nature’s pests also love wood. Carpenter ants love wood so much that they build their homes out of it creating tunnels and galleys to house their large nests. If you are not careful, carpenter ants could turn your home into their nesting place. That being said, here is what you should do if you are seeing carpenter ants around your Bay Area property.
Carpenter Ant Identification
Carpenter ants are surprisingly easy to identify. For one, they are the biggest species of ant here in America. They are nearly two times bigger than fire ants and four times bigger than crazy ants. As for color, carpenter ants will be black, red, or a combination of the two. Occasionally, during the spring months, colonies of carpenter ants will produce winged reproductive ants known as swarmers. Swarmers are a bit bigger than workers and have the sole job of establishing new nests.
Are Carpenter Ants Destructive?
The good news is that carpenter ants are nowhere near as destructive as termites. The bad news is that they are still capable of severely damaging your home if given enough time.
One of the biggest reasons carpenter ants are less destructive than termites is simply because they are easier to identify. This means more homeowners can spot them early and can, therefore, deal with them before they cause severe damage. In the case where carpenter ants go unnoticed or ignored, they can cause tens of thousands of dollars in property damage in just a matter of a couple of years.
Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?
For the most part, carpenter ants are not dangerous to humans. Though they will contaminate countertops and cupboards as they scavenge for food, they are not known to transmit harmful diseases. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat the wood they infest. Rather, they wreak havoc as they tunnel through wood to create pathways to their nesting areas.
What If I See A Carpenter Ant In My Bay Area Home?
Seeing a carpenter ant in or around your home does not necessarily mean your home is infested. There is always the chance they have only gotten into your home to scavenger for food to bring back to their nest located elsewhere. One thing you should know is that carpenter ants will only infest wood that has been softened by water damage, rot, or decay. If your home’s wood is still in good condition, they will have no reason to invade.
Signs Of A Carpenter Ant Infestation
Besides seeing live carpenter ants in and around your home, here are a few signs you can use to identify a potential infestation:
- A rustling noise coming from inside walls
- Carpenter ant swarmers
- Piles of frass (sawdust) on the ground along walls or clung to walls near tiny holes.
- Overly squeaky floorboards
- Visible galley ways running through wood around your home.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Home Has Carpenter Ants
There is no easy way to get carpenter ants out of your home without help from a professional pest control expert. At Bay Pest, we know what it takes to quickly and effectively eliminate carpenter ants from homes. If your home requires quality pest control at an economic price, we are here to help.
Reach out to us today with any questions and to find out more about our pest control options. We look forward to partnering with you for all of your pest control needs.