What You Need to Know About Carpenter Ants

Much as we try, most efforts to eradicate ant plagues from our lives have failed completely. There’s simply no way to overcome one of the most environmentally resilient animals to ever walk on the surface of the Earth. Which is particularly worrisome when the invader is a wood dwelling tantrum. If left untreated, a swarm of the infamous carpenter ant is one of the most destructive pest problems that can happen in your home. Not only they are a nuisance as the structural integrity of your building may be jeopardized beyond repair. Call us to set up an ant exterminator in Toronto. Call: 647-496-2211

A pest of wood dwellers is bad for your house and bad for your wallet. So here’s what you need to know about carpenter ants to prevent this nightmare.

Physical Appearance

Carpenter ants rank among the largest of all ant species. Adults typically measure anywhere between 6 to 12 millimeters in length, but winged swarmers will reach 18 millimeters. They have dark-colored bodies and narrow waists. These ants are endowed with big and powerful jaws capable of inflicting painful bites to humans.

Nesting and Feeding Habits

The reason why a plague of carpenter ants can be so devastating is the fact that they build their nests inside wooden structures. Outdoor colonies can be spotted inside tree trunks, sheds or firewood. Within the confines of a building, a nest can lie inside a wall void, rotting structural wood, an attic or even a big wooden fixture. A colony of carpenter ants inside your house is a reason to be concerned because it poses a potential threat to the structural integrity of your building. But unlike what many people believe, these ants don’t actually eat the wood. Their main diet consists of other insects. So what exactly attracts them to your house?

What Attracts Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants often seek rotten or moisture-damaged wood to build their nests, and the indoors of building often have the perfect environment for them. Gutters or decks flagged by water a exemplify the typical conditions where these insects like to settle. Foraging carpenter ants (those looking for a new nesting place) can get into one’s house through many casual ways: cracks and crevices, tree branches touching the building, firewood brought into the house or simply opened doors and windows. Once inside the building they typically look for decaying wood to build their nests and start another colony. If you spot flying carpenter ants inside your during the winter it means that you probably have a nest inside your house.

How To Prevent A Carpenter Ant Problem

Given their nesting habits, it’s clear that the presence of a nest inside your house is a sign that there is a problem with moisture or water that must be addressed and corrected. First line of precaution is to inspect the roof, walls, gutters, decks, floor or any other structure that may have signs of decay caused by moisture or water. Look for spills or leaks that may have gone unnoticed for a long time. It’s also important to ensure that the nearby outdoor environment does not elicit the ants towards your house:

• Take down tree branches and bushes touching your house;
  Take down dying trees within 50 feet of your house;
  Make sure you don’t carry decaying firewood into your house;
  Seal any cracks or crevices that you see in the lower structures of your house (if there are no signs of nesting yet);

If you are living in a wooden house, it would be wise to resort to our greatest weapon against any and all adversities – knowledge. Understanding the creature’s habits and motives is the first line of defense all pest problems. If they persist call The Exterminators: 647-496-2211. We offer effective and guaranteed carpenter ant control Toronto solutions.