Carpenter ants are relatively easy to distinguish from other ants because of their size. These large ants grow to over half an inch long. They can be black, red, or a combination of both colors, and they have segmented bodies with six legs and a pair of antennae. Some carpenter ants have wings.
Most ants do not have wings. Even most carpenter ants don’t have wings. If you see large, winged carpenter ants, you have cause to be concerned. These ants are reproductive members of a colony. Their presence means a well-established colony is nearby, and new colonies are forming.
At certain times of the year, a swarm of reproductive ants will come out to mate. When conditions are favorable, the males typically fly out first and signal to the females by releasing a pheromone. After mating, the males die, and the females fly off to lay eggs and start a new colony.
Although their name may make you think carpenter ants eat wood, they do not. Carpenter ants eat a variety of insects and plants. They like sweet, greasy, and protein-rich foods. Because of their varied diets, they can live in many different areas as long as some food source is available.
Carpenter ants can bite if they feel threatened. They have strong jaws that can produce a painful bite, especially if they inject formic acid into the wound. However, despite the immediate pain of a carpenter ant bite, there are rarely any long-term complications.
The biggest problem with carpenter ants is the destruction they leave in their wake. Carpenter ants create their nests in wood. To do this, they dig tunnels inside the wood. Over time, these tunnels can become extensive, which weakens the wood and whatever structure it belongs to. While carpenter ants can be beneficial in helping break down old rotting trees and the like, if they get into your house, they will damage wood and the structures that wood belongs to.
People frequently confuse carpenter ants and termites. Although they are similar in appearance and have similar habits, these pests are not the same and require different treatment to be eliminated. Because of that, it’s important to distinguish between the two species.
Carpenter ants are far more likely than termites to be seen out in the open. The only termites in the open are the swarmer termites, which look similar to winged carpenter ants. You can tell them apart in a few ways:
Carpenter ants and termites are also different in how they treat wood. Carpenter ants chew through it to dig tunnels and nests but don’t eat the wood. Although termites also dig tunnels and nests in wood, they eat the cellulose in the wood as they work.
Carpenter ants prefer to build their nests in wet, water-damaged, or rotting wood. However, any wood around your property may draw carpenter ants towards your house. They are often found in stacks of firewood and may use branches as bridges to get into homes. They also require a water source to survive, so they are more likely to be attracted to areas with a lot of moisture.
Carpenter ants nest in wood. They may use fallen trees, wood piles, or rotting fences outdoors. Once inside your home, they’ll look for wooden structures that might include beams, studs, or furniture.
Although they’re some of the biggest ants around, carpenter ants are still small enough to take advantage of small openings to get inside your house. They often use branches that touch the sides or roof of your home as a bridge to gain access to the exterior. From there, they look for any small opening they can exploit to get inside. Some of the most common entry points include gaps around windows or doors and the openings where plumbing, electrical, and ventilation equipment enter the home.
If you've spotted large black ants in your home or yard, or you've discovered other signs of carpenter ant activity, contact Marathon Pest Control for assistance. Our locally owned and operated pest control company offers effective home pest control services that eliminate carpenter ants and other pests.
It’s wise to take steps to prevent carpenter ants from getting into your house. This will help you avoid an infestation and the damage that results. These tips will help:
When you take the time to make your home unattractive to carpenter ants, you make it far less likely that you’ll have to deal with a carpenter ant infestation.
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