Carpenter ants are sneaky and smart. They will infiltrate your premises and take over without ever being seen. That doesn’t mean you have to be outsmarted, though. Two can play at this game, and becoming an expert in espionage is step one in combating the infestation. Nevertheless, carpenter ants are unwelcomed guests and, therefore, should expect to be eliminated. As with any espionage mission, gathering as much information as possible before calling in the big guns to exterminate the enemy is essential, so let’s knuckle down and ‘dig the dirt’ on what to do about carpenter ants.
Getting To Know The Enemy And Their Downfalls
Knowing the enemy and every move they make gives you the upper hand in the battle. It takes several years for a carpenter ant colony to reach full capacity, and you may not see any signs of infestation in those years as carpenter ants do not need to feed on the food in your home. Although it does create a more complex investigation, there are a few signs and traits these critters have to help us.
- Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they do tunnel through it. As a result, you may find sawdust (frass) in your basement area, stuck to walls or along skirting.
- If you see a single ant crawling around your home, it may be the only sure-tell sign that you have an infestation. But, before reaching for the can of insecticide, take a look at the ant to distinguish what it is. Carpenter ants are black or blackish-red in colour and have a single node between their abdomen and thorax.
- If you find carpenter ants with wings in your home, it means the colony has matured and is ready to reproduce. One colony is enough trouble; you definitely don’t want it growing in numbers.
Carpenter ants do not respond to typical household insecticides or traps. Therefore, hiring a professional exterminator is paramount to eliminate the infestation.
How To Prevent Reinfestations
You’ve managed to clear out the enemy but are now constantly worrying about reinfestation. They got in once; what’s going to stop them from entering again? Well, it’s not impossible to prevent reinfestation, and there are certain things you can do around your house to give you better odds.
- Avoid stacking wood alongside the house and remove any rotting tree stumps.
- Find the entry point. Using caulking to seal any crevices and cracks in the infrastructure will help prevent reinfestation.
- Carpenter ants need water; don’t give them a source.
If you really want to know what to do about carpenter ants, call us today.
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