Carpenter ants may not seem that dangerous, especially when compared to pests like termites. But don’t be fooled by the ant’s appearance – it’s one of the biggest contributors to wood damage in Lufkin.
An infestation of carpenter ants could result in serious damage. Fortunately, a little forethought pays dividends in the future, and knowing what actions to take today could result in a pest-free home tomorrow.
If you’re getting frustrated with carpenter ant ‘freeloaders’ hiding around your house, you can use this guide to identify their movements and put a stop to infestations. First, we teach you how to identify carpenter ants. Then, we explain the signs of damage and point out prevention tips. We conclude with how to control carpenter ants in Lufkin, including the treatment services offered by Quality Pest Control.
How To Identify Carpenter Ants
Are you familiar with what carpenter ants look like?
Test yourself with the following identification points:
- Carpenter ants are large, dark insects measuring 1/4 to 1/2 an inch long.
- Winged carpenter ants (also known as alates) appear during spring or summer. Unlike winged termites (also known as swarmers), they have thin waists and bent antennae.
- Carpenter ants live in colonies with up to 100,000 adults. Fine sawdust shavings, known as frass, are a good giveaway of their presence.
When it comes to identifying an infestation, you don’t have to worry about spotting one or two carpenter ants. But if you start to see many ants around your house, or if you’ve spotted signs of damage, you may have an infestation.
Keep reading to learn about the signs of carpenter ants.
Signs Carpenter Ants Are Chewing On Your Home
Both subterranean termites and carpenter ants can have a major impact on wooden structures. The main difference between them is how they feed – termites eat wood, while carpenter ants nest in it.
Tiny frass piles may point to major damage, as well as active ants near untreated wood in your home. Hollow-sounding wood, clicking sounds in your walls, or 1/4-inch holes in baseboards may also point to a problem.
If you think or know you’ve spotted any of these signs, you need to call Quality Pest Control for carpenter ant removal.
If you don’t yet have a carpenter ant infestation, you can start with the prevention steps below.
Five Effective Carpenter Ant Prevention Tips
To avoid carpenter ant damage to your home, try using these five tips:
- Move firewood away from the home. Be sure to stack split logs off the ground.
- Remove landscape mulch to reduce soil-to-wood contact. Peat stone and river rock are two possible options.
- Control the amount of humidity in your home. Remember: wet or water damaged wood provides a perfect place for carpenter ants to hide.
- Seal up tiny cracks and gaps around the house. These allow unwanted ants to get inside.
- Remove food sources from around the house. Crumbs, spills, and open garbage bags are perfect for hungry carpenter ants.
Remember: carpenter ant infestations may still occur with the use of these ant prevention tips.
If you identify an active infestation, get in touch with Quality Pest Control.
The Most Effective Carpenter Ant Control In Lufkin
Even if you use the best carpenter ant prevention tips, you may still wind up with an infestation. Thankfully, the professional team at Quality Pest Control would be more than happy to help.
We offer carpenter ant control in a three-part process to better protect your home. With inspections, treatments, and follow-up services, we make it easy to reclaim your property from pests.
Get pest control for carpenter ants by contacting Quality Pest Control today. We’re looking forward to serving your home with foolproof services and reduced-impact products.