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It's that time of year again! The ants march back into La Valle homes every spring, and getting them out can be tricky. Some ants are mainly a nuisance, crawling around the house searching for food scraps, but others, like carpenter ants in your home, can cause significant trouble and damage.
This article will review the signs of carpenter ants that La Valle pest control companies look for to identify an infestation. We'll also explain what attracts these ants and how they damage the structure of your home. Learn how to stop carpenter ants and protect your home with the pros at Pest Control Consultants.
Signs Carpenter Ants Are Chewing On Your Home
Learning to differentiate these ants from other species is the first step in successful carpenter ant control. Carpenter ants can be red, black, brown, or a combination of red and black. They are around 1/2 an inch long, which makes them larger than most other species and relatively easy to identify.
Understanding the signs of carpenter ants in your house can help you catch a problem early and limit the damage they can do. Here are some of the most common signs of these ants:
- Seeing flying carpenter ant swarmers on your La Valle property indicates an infestation.
- Large worker ants inside the house will most likely be active between dusk and dawn.
- Seeing small holes in the surface of the wood in your home.
- You may notice sawdust-like shavings containing fragments of insect body parts and insulation near the holes.
- You might hear rustling sounds from the wall voids when the winged insects are disturbed.
The most significant sign of trouble is seeing winged flying ants inside your home. When a colony is mature, typically after two years, these ants are released. If you see flying ants or discarded wings around your home, take action as soon as possible to limit the damage they can do.
Homeowners sometimes have trouble determining what species of ant is infesting their house. If you need help identifying the type of ants you have, contact us today at Pest Control Consultants for assistance. Our technicians can correctly identify the ants and take immediate steps to eliminate them.
How And Why Carpenter Ants Damage Your Home
Carpenter ants in La Valle are sometimes confused with termites, and while it is true that they can both destroy wood, they do so for different reasons. Carpenter ants don't eat the wood in your house as termites do. Instead, they excavate it by tunneling and chewing through it to build their nests, typically starting with water-damaged wood and then moving on to sound wood.
Over time, the galleries and tunnels the ants carve out can weaken the structural integrity of your home. Mature carpenter ant colonies can be significant, with 10,000 to 50,000 individual ants chewing their way through the wood. If you suspect a carpenter ant infestation in your home, contact us at Pest Control Consultants to eliminate the ants and prevent further damage.
Causes For Carpenter Ants In The Home
Certain conditions around your property can increase the chances of an infestation of carpenter ants. Repairing or eliminating the following factors can help you avoid carpenter ant damage to your home:
- Carpenter ants require moisture to survive, so leaking pipes and standing water may attract them.
- These ants are drawn to wood softened by fungus or rot from water.
- Storing firewood and building materials near your home can attract carpenter ants.
- They may be drawn to piles of debris or compost.
- Carpenter ants will utilize branches and shrubs that touch the house to gain entry.
- Cracks and gaps on your house's exterior walls will allow carpenter ants access to your home.
Teaming up with a local company like Pest Control Consultants can help you to proactively prevent pest infestations from ever getting started. Reach out today to learn more about our home pest control treatments and how our services can eliminate your ant problems.
Call The Pros At The First Sign Of Carpenter Ants
Contacting the pros at Pest Control Consultants at the first sign of carpenter ants is the best way to protect your home from the damage these pests can cause. Because these insects can weaken the structural integrity of your home, it is critical to get rid of carpenter ants as quickly as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to request your free inspection.
