Carpenter ants look very similar to termites and are often confused with them. In fact, being confused is not so a bad thing as carpenter ants can cause an array of issues to your home.
Unfortunately, they are increasingly an issue, especially across the eastern part of the US. If you think you have an issue with carpenter ants it’s advisable to find out more info from your local experts as soon as possible.
Carpenter ants are – 3/8’s of an inch long and have segmented bodies. They are black in color and look very similar to most other ants you’ll see. It’s worth noting that while termites are similar they don’t have segmented bodies.
Where They Live
A carpenter ant likes to live in damp deadwood. Just like termites, they will create tunnels in the wood. However, while a termite eats the wood to keep themselves alive, the carpenter ant merely creates tunnels to create a nest for the colony. The wood they tunnel out is left behind, as a fine sawdust. In fact, seeing holes in wood and small piles of fine dust are one of the most visual signs that you have an issue with carpenter ants.
The biggest problem is the fact they’re not eating the wood. This means they can create longer tunnels faster than termites, potentially causing structural damage.
The Problems They Cause
Aside from the fact that it’s not nice to see lots of ants running around the floor, carpenter ants will chew through large volumes of wood in a relatively short space of time. That’s why you need to get an exterminator as soon as you think you have an issue.
When they create tunnels in the wood it weakens the wood. If this happens to be a supporting piece of wood they can actually undermine the strength of the property and cause structural issues. In extreme cases, the house can actually collapse.
Keep Your Eyes Open
Seeing carpenter ants crawling around the floors and walls is a good sign of infestation. But you’ll also know you have an issue if you see ants coming and going from crevices in your home. You should also keep your eyes open for small piles of wood shavings and tiny holes in the wood. This indicates the carpenter ants are active.
It’s worth noting that the insides of these small holes are smooth and there will be no debris in them.
If the house is quiet you may even be able to hear faint rustling in the walls as the ants are busy chewing and moving around.
A colony can grow rapidly, creating more problems. That’s why you need to act as soon as you realize there is an issue. The quicker you eradicate the issue the less likely it is that there will be serious structural damage.
Detecting the issue early is key to protecting your home in the long term. Be vigilant and your protect your home.
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