Most species of ants are a nuisance at worst, but carpenter ants are capable of dealing real damage to your home if left unchecked. How?
In order for Carpenter ants to make their nests, they excavate through wood. These create tunnels for them to use, and over time can compromise the structural integrity of your home. How can you tell if you have carpenter ants eating at your home? Here are the telltale signs:
#1 Large Black Ants (with and without wings)
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Carpenter ants don’t actually eat wood; they just destroy it to make a tunnel. What they feed on are the usual – something sweet, parts of dead animals & insects, and fruits & vegetables. Some of them are winged and some of them are not. If seeing winged ants are becoming more frequent, it’s a sign that they’re looking to spread their colony; as they have probably already used too much space in their nest.
#2 Wood Damage
As we’ve mentioned, carpenter ants can be really destructive if left alone. Once you start seeing these critters, check all your walls, nooks, and crannies for any change. If you’re structures have a smooth hole in it, then it’s most probably due to the carpenter ants excavating them.
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#3 Sawdust Trail
With wood damage comes the trail. Piles of sawdust can be seen near walls and floors of the carpenter ants’ nest. Some piles of sawdust may even stick on your carpet, if ants normally go through them.
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#4 Rustling Sound
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In very heavy infestations (and if you put your ear against the wall), you may hear faint rustling sounds coming from the walls. The sounds actually come from the carpenter ants moving and chewing through the wood. It is where most likely they are building their nest.
The first step in dealing with an infestation is to know where they are. Due to their number and behavior, carpenter ants can be quite the challenge to evict from your home. Once you’ve found you have an infestation, call a trusted pest professional as soon as possible.
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Summer is finally here and so are the pests!
While you are out and about, enjoying the sun, you’re going to encounter many pests that will most certainly sneak into your house. Pests who go into hiding in winter months to stay warm will definitely emerge, reproduce and expand their habitats this season! What are those pests? Why do you see most of them at this time of the year? How can you prevent them from finding their way into your home? How can you get rid of them? Read on to discover more.
- Mosquitoes
Ticks are pesky critters that live by feeding on the blood of other animals, notably a nuisance for us humans. Tick season begins in early spring and continues through fall.
via GIPHY Black-legged deer ticks that carry Lyme disease, can remain active throughout the year, so it’s important to treat a bite as soon as possible!
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