Remove wood from structures

Carpenter ants nest in moist wood such as rotting trees and stumps, and logs or boards on the ground. Nests have been found in tubs, sinks, showers and dishwashers, under roofing and in attic beams. They remove wood as they create galleries and tunnels. Indoors, carpenter ants feed on meat and sugary foods.

Carpenter ants can grow to a size of half an inch in length. In order to effectively eliminate carpenter ants, be sure to identify them correctly. Look for the following signs:

Presence of ants (workers or winged reproductives): An occasional ant may be a scout looking for food and may not indicate the presence of a nest, but continuous or numerous ants are a sign of nesting.

Frass: Accumulating in piles or caught in spider webbing; has a finely-shredded appearance. Do not confuse with small sawdust from construction, doors or cabinets rubbing on one another, or drywood termite fecal pellets.

Trails: Carpenter ants will often form tight closely associated trails that can be traced to the area of the nest. Many times trails can be tracing along carpet edges, door frames, outside eaves, fence tops, telephone and power lines, etc.

Sounds: Rustling or tapping noises produced when disturbed ants rasp the substrate with their mandibles or gasters or when excavating wood. If you put your ear up to a hollow door and then scratch your fingers on the other side, the scratching sound will give you a good idea of what carpenter ants sound like.

Getting rid of Carpenter Ants

Getting rid of ants usually requires professional attention. Although sprays and home treatments may provide temporary relief, we highly recommend you call Pest Solutions 365 as soon as possible so we can permanently get rid of the pests.

Pest Solutions 365 can determine the size of infestation and pest control needs of your home with a professional pest audit. Only $25 for a 20-minute inspection.

Some simple things can be done to slow the infestation in your home:

• If you see ants coming out of places such electrical outlets, baseboards, windows, etc., seal those places with tape. However, this solution will be temporary.
• Clean, sweep and scrub! Make sure all your counter tops, floors and window seals are free of any food crumbs — this even means food that slides under the stove. Any food, especially sweets, will draw ants to your home.
• Remove all organic material (including leaves, twigs, grass clippings, etc.) away from your foundation. Ants love to use these materials to build nests.