Ants are born with immeasurable talent. They can lift objects hundreds of times their weight, build intricate homes out of the earth, and work together in perfect harmony to survive storms, temperature changes, and predators. If only they could use these many talents to benefit humans. Instead, they invade our homes, steal our food, and cause several other problems. To help you keep these invasive and troublesome pests off your Aiken property, try these helpful prevention tips.
What Carpenter Ants Look Like
If you are going to identify carpenter ants on your Aiken property, you must know what they look like. An adult carpenter ant is ⅝” long, has a large head and mandibles, and is red, black, or a combination of these two colors. You are most likely to find one or two of these pests scavenging through your home for food or hanging out around its nest.
Where Carpenter Ants Build Their Nests
One thing you may have already guessed about carpenter ants is that they build their nests into structures of wood. More specifically, these pests look for sources of wood that are water-damaged, rotting, or in decay. If the quality of your home’s wood has deteriorated, over time, it will be much more susceptible to these invasive and destructive insects.
Things That Draw Carpenter Ants Onto Properties
Good places to build are not the only things that draw carpenter ants to properties. These invasive and destructive pests also love good food. Like many other species of ants that live in our area, carpenter ants feed on foods that are high in protein and sugar. Oftentimes these pests are drawn to properties by items like over-ripened fruits, berries, left-out cookout food, pet food, and tasty garden plants. Another thing that invites in carpenter ants is moisture. If your yard is not properly terraformed and is cluttered, it will be more likely to collect and hold water after rainstorms. If water is pooling near your home and negatively affecting structural wood, carpenter ants will have everything they need to come inside and start trouble.
Some Ways To Prevent Carpenter Ants
Now that you have a better understanding of why carpenter ants invade properties in our area, let’s talk about some simple solutions to keep them out of your home and yard. To start, try these helpful prevention tips:
- Mow your grass regularly and keep your landscaping properly trimmed.
- Remove sources of water build-up from your property.
- Make sure your gutters are clean and in good repair.
- Pick up fruits, vegetables, berries, and other food that drops into your yard.
- Avoid feeding your pets outdoors and clean out their bowls after every meal.
- Trim back tree branches and other greenery to create a five-foot, dry barrier around your home.
- Keep your home as clean as possible by cleaning up food messes and drink spills as they occur.
- Fill in holes, gaps, and cracks around your home’s exterior foundation using a caulking gun.
- Address problems with window/door screens, weather stripping, and door sweeps.
The Best Way To Control Carpenter Ants
There is more than one way to handle carpenter ants around your Aiken property, most require hours of your time, tons of research, and a fair amount of trial and error. If you want a simple and guaranteed solution to your home’s carpenter ant and other pest problems, turn to the experts at Aiken Pest. Our team understands invasive and destructive pests and has the advanced tools and experience needed to stop them.