Ant season has officially begun and the ant populations are already booming, which means that carpenter ants are currently looking for a place to establish their satellite colonies; any wooden walls, floors, or foundations in your homes could be at risk for an infestation. If you notice large black ants foraging around your home, you are most likely seeing carpenter ants. It is important to know what attracts them and what the signs of a carpenter ant infestation look like so that you can take action against these pests before they invade your home.
The damage that carpenter ants cause is often confused with termite damage; however, there are a few key differences between the two. Both carpenter ants and termites invade and destroy wooden structures, but carpenter ants aren’t quite as destructive as termites. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t feed on the wood; instead, they create tunnels and colonies within wooden structures, which can weaken the structure of your home and cause damage that will be costly to repair.
Carpenter ants usually prefer damp or water-damaged wood. The wetness of the wood makes these areas of your home easy entry points for these ants and from there, they can continue to borrow into the healthier wood. The areas of your home that are closer to shrubbery or tree branches are at a higher risk for a carpenter ant invasion; the branches act as a bridge that these ants can use to gain access to your home. Carpenter ants are also commonly found in piles of firewood and any landscaping that includes wood such as gardens or swing sets.
There are several things that homeowners can do to take precautions against a carpenter ant invasion. A couple of these methods include frequently checking your home’s foundation for water damage and fixing the problems causing it; clearing wood debris from your property, especially any that is close to the exterior of your home; and blocking any small entry points into your home by sealing cracks and holes.
If your home has already been infested by carpenter ants, you will need to enlist the help of a pest control professional to identify and eliminate them. Luckily for residents of Aiken and the Central Savannah River area of South Carolina, Aiken Pest Control has the experience and solutions that every homeowner needs when dealing with carpenter ants. Our home pest control and commercial pest management services have been given 5 stars on Google Review; your satisfaction is guaranteed! To learn more about how Aiken Pest Control can help take control of carpenter ants on your property, contact us today!