Everything You Need To Know About Carpenter Ants And the Dangers They Present

Ants are relatively small creatures and probably not something you spend too long thinking about until they invade your home. 

The good news is that most species of ant are not considered hazardous to human health. They are not known to carry bacteria although it is possible that bacteria will stick to their feet and move with them. Considering what ants walk through you probably don’t want them on any food preparation surface.

Ants live in colonies with each ant having a specific job to ensure the survival of the colony. In most cases, they do this outside. But, carpenter ants are particularly fond of your home, and for good reason.

Identifying An Ant Problem

The first sign that you may have a carpenter ant issue and need to call pest control is when you see black ants, slightly larger than the norm, inside your home. Like most pests, they are adept at staying hidden so you may not notice them for a while. However, once you do notice them it is likely that they already have a significant presence and you need to check here for expert assistance in your area.

You may also notice small piles of sawdust near pieces of wood, this is the debris they leave behind as they tunnel through wood.

Carpenter ants are approximately ¼ inch long although the queen can be as big as one inch!

The Issue With Carpenter Ants

Ants are never an attractive feature of a home but carpenter ants are experts at tunneling into the wood. It is worth noting that they prefer wood that has already been damaged by water. They don’t eat the wood as termites do. Instead, they simply tunnel into it to create their colony. They will create a vast network of tunnels inside your wood.

It’s worth noting that these pests tunnel through wood faster than termites. However, because they are simply creating a nest, in the long term termites will do significantly more damage.

The biggest problem with tunnels in your wood is that the wood can be weakened. This can lead to rotten floors and even structural issues.

Carpenter ants usually stay clear of humans. But, if you are invading their space they may bite and it’s powerful enough to break the skin. 

Dealing With Carpenter Ants

If you have an infestation of carpenter ants the best bet is to get the local pest control expert to deal with the issue. Although you can try to eliminate them yourself, it can be hard to locate the nest and ensure all the carpenter ants have been killed. 

It is important to be aware of any leaks in your home. This creates moisture which can cause your wood to start rotting, making it a perfect target for the carpenter ants. Fix leaks quickly and replace any damaged wood to help keep termites and carpenter ants away from your home. 

As ants are very small it can be difficult to prevent them from entering your home, that’s why prompt action to eliminate them is essential.

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Girl on Fire

Photographer at Loudmouth Photography

Brandy is the wife to a carpenter/musician and the mother of 3 amazingly awesome homeschool/unschooled girls. Brandy is a Photographer as well as a Coach for the Weebellion as part of Rolling Rebellion Jr. Roller Derby. Brandy is passionate about many things and suffers from a very painful and degenerative neurological disease called CRPS/RSD.

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