Here in New Haven County, we face all sorts of home-invading pests. However, few of them are as destructive as carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are a species of ants that build their nests inside of wood. As such, if the wood they decide to build their nest in is the same wood that makes up your home, you could find yourself dealing with severe damages that require costly repairs. It is important for you to know the preventative measures you can take to lower your exposure to these destructive ants. Should your New Haven County home become infested with carpenter ants, you need to know the effective treatment solutions you can count on to get rid of them.
What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
Carpenter ants are large ants that typically grow to be about 5/8th of an inch long. They are usually red, black, or a combination of the two. Additionally, some carpenter ants have wings. Because of their knack for destroying wood, many people conflate carpenter ants with termites. However, while termites eat wood, carpenter ants simply build their nests inside of it. Carpenter ants aren’t considered to be as destructive as termites. Still, their colonies can reach upwards of 50,000 ants which means they can still do quite a bit of damage.
Because carpenter ants do not eat wood, they still must venture out of their nests in search of food. You could very well spot carpenter ants walking around your home. You may also find sawdust-like shavings in your home that carpenter ants have expelled from their nest.
Threats Posed By Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants pose several threats to humans and our property. As they build their nests in wood, carpenter ants can damage or destroy the structural wood inside of a home. Furthermore, they can damage flooring, siding, baseboards, or wooden antiques or furniture. In addition to this, as carpenter ants do not eat wood, they must forage for food. They can make their way into your pantry, where they can eat and contaminate your food. Overall, whether it’s the wood in your home or the food in your cupboard, carpenter ants can make you pay big if they get inside of your house.
Carpenter Ant Prevention Techniques
When it comes to carpenter ant prevention for your New Haven County home, you should try to address any moisture issues in your home and take away any potential food sources.
This includes:
- Remove or replace any rotting or decaying wood.
- Use dehumidifiers to address any moisture issues in your home, especially poorly vented areas such as basements and storage spaces.
- Fix any leaky pipes or fixtures.
- Store all food in airtight containers or the fridge.
- Wipe up any spills from countertops or floors immediately.
- Take out the trash regularly, and store trash in bins with tight-fitting lids.
- Install door sweeps under exterior doors.
- Fill in any cracks in your home’s foundation.
Carpenter Ant Control Solutions
If carpenter ants do invade your New Haven County home, don’t waste your time and money trying to get rid of them on your own. Instead, call the professionals here at Rescue 1 Pest & Termite Control. Not only will we effectively eliminate any carpenter ants from within your home, but we will also work with you to better protect your home from future infestations. Don’t let carpenter ants build their home inside of the wood in yours. Give us a call today.