Carpenter ants can seriously damage your home by nesting in wood. It’s important to identify these pests early to prevent structural damage. They are typically large, dark brown or black, with curled antennae and two pairs of wings. Carpenter ant don’t eat wood like termites do. But, their tunnels can weaken wood over time. This guide will help you how to get rid of carpenter ants. It covers how to identify them, what attracts them, and how to eliminate them before they cause damage.
How to Identify Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are large, dark brown or black. They have bent antennae and two pairs of wings, with the front wings longer than the back. They are most active at night. They can damage homes by boring holes in wood to build their nests.
What they look like:
- Antennae: Bent or fused.
- Color: Dark brown or black
- Wings: Two pairs; front wings longer.
- Waist: One node (petiole)
- Thorax: Smooth and rounded when viewed from the side
How they behave:
- Trails: Workers often travel along corners, wires, pipes, and wood piles.
- Diet: They eat dead and live insects, honeydew from aphids, and juice from ripe fruits.
- Activity: Most active at night. They usually leave their nest 15 minutes after sunset.
- Nest: They carve wood to build their nest. This can cause major damage over time.
Keep an eye out for these ants, as their presence can be a sign of potential problems for your home.
Ways To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants In Your Home
To get rid of carpenter ants in your home, you need a strategic approach. This guide outlines five key steps. They are: locate and destroy their nests, use ant baits, and call professionals if needed.
Step 1: Find the nest.
To get rid of carpenter ants, you need to target their nest. Killing a few ants will not solve the problem because they live in large colonies. Carpenter ant nest in wood, particularly moist or rotten wood, but they can also nest in dry wood. Common places to check are:
- wall voids
- ceiling beams
- behind dishwashers or air-conditioning units
- piles of firewood
- tree trunks, roots or fallen logs.
Look for signs such as piles of sawdust in the walls or rustling sounds. If you see a trail of ants, follow them—they often lead you to the nest.
Step 2: Destroy the nest.
Once you find the nest, drill small holes (about 6 inches apart) in the wall or structure near it. Then, use a bulb duster to pour insecticide into the holes. For a natural method, try diatomaceous earth, boric acid or borax.
Carpenter ants often have satellite nests. You may have to repeat this process several times to completely eradicate them.
Step 3: Prepare ant baits.
Pesticides only kill ants they directly touch. To get rid of carpenters ants deep inside the nest, especially queen ants, use ant baits. These baits combine a food the ants like (such as syrup or peanut butter) with a poison (such as borax or baking soda).
Place the baits near the nest, along ant paths and in places where you’ve seen them. The ants will carry the bait back to the colony and share it, spreading the poison throughout the nest.
Step 4: Erase pheromone trails.
Carpenter ants follow scent trails to find food and return to their nest. Remove these signs using household items such as:
- vinegar
- cinnamon
- cayenne pepper or black pepper.
Place these repellents near the nest and in active areas to confuse the ants and prevent them from returning.
Step 5: Call an Exterminator.
If you’ve tried everything and there are still ants, the infestation may be too large to handle. Pest control specialists can find and harvest hidden or hard-to-reach nests.
Don’t wait too long. Carpenter ants can damage your home’s structure and can be costly to fix. Take steps to protect your home as soon as possible, and get rid of carpenter ant before the damage becomes irreversible!
Carpenter Ants vs. Termites
Homeowners often mistake carpenter ants for termites. Both can damage wooden structures. But, the two are quite different. Termites eat wood. Carpenter ant do not. They tunnel through wood to build their nests. If you see fine wood dust around the entry point, it’s a good clue that carpenter ants are the culprits, not termites.
You can also tell them apart by their appearance. Carpenter ant have a narrow, pinched waist. Termites have a more uniform, cylindrical body. Additionally, termites have straight antennae, whereas carpenter ants have jointed or bent antennae.
What Causes Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are attracted to damp wood and places where they can easily find food. They thrive in water-damaged or decaying sites. Therefore, they are a common problem in damp or unkempt areas.
What attracts carpenter ants?
Moisture: Damp wood is easy for carpenter ant to chew. Therefore, they are often found near leaky roofs, pipes, gutters or AC units. To get rid of carpenter ants, fixing leaks is critical.
Dead wood: They like rotting wood, such as old logs, tree trunks or damaged wooden structures.
Food: Sweet or fatty foods can attract carpenter ants. This includes syrup, jelly, sugar, fruit, meat, oil and even salt.
Organic debris: Piles of leaves, cardboard boxes and roof tiles can attract them. They can use these to build nests.
Plants: Plants that produce nectar or attract insects such as aphids (which excrete honeydew) can also be a source of food for carpenter ant.
By managing these factors, you can make your home less attractive to carpenter ants.
Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation
The relatively large size of carpenter ants is just one detail. Look for other behaviors that indicate you have carpenter ants: If you notice any of these signs, it may be time to get rid of carpenter ant before they cause further damage:
Noises in the Walls: A soft crackling sound at night? Carpenter ant may be gnawing away at wood to build their nests.
Piles of Sawdust: Look for small piles of sawdust (frass) near foundations or entry points. This is the debris the ants leave behind as they tunnel into the wood to build their nests.
Flying Ants: In the spring and early summer, you may see flying ants. These are reproductive adult ants that leave the nest to mate. Carpenter ants typically fly during the early part of the year, although other ants also fly during specific times.
Detecting these signs early can help you fix a carpenter ant problem before it gets worse.
Carpenter Ant Prevention Tips
Preventing carpenter ants means removing their preferred conditions and entry points. Here are some simple but effective tips:
Store firewood wisely: Keep firewood off the ground and cover it with a tarp. Bring it indoors only when you’re ready to use it.
Remove moisture: Check for and fix leaks, condensation or rotten wood in your home. Carpenter ants thrive in damp environments.
Inspect your foundation: Seal any cracks in your walls to block entry points.
Prune trees and shrubs: Cut back branches and shrubs. They shouldn’t touch your walls. Ants can use them as a bridge to get in.
Maintain drains: Clean drains regularly to prevent moisture buildup. Check for breaks and blockages.
Try diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle this natural powder around entry points or problem areas. It dehydrates and kills ants and other insects.
Use ant bait: Spread granules of bait in affected areas. Or, place small mounds of bait wherever you’ve seen activity. The ants will carry it back to their nest, targeting the entire colony.
Call in a specialist: If the infestation is large or the nests are hard to find, pest control specialists can help.
Remember, people often mistake winged carpenter ants for termites. But, they have different habits and body sizes. Identifying them early can help protect your home and get rid of carpenter ant before they cause damage.
Conclusion
Finally, take urgent action against carpenter ants. They can cause serious damage to your home. To get rid of carpenter ant, find and destroy their nests. Use bait and remove sources of moisture. If you recognize them early, these steps will work. If the infestation continues, don’t hesitate to call a pest control professional for help.
FAQs
- Do carpenter ants bite?
Carpenter ants have powerful jaws for digging through wood, but they don’t typically bite humans or pets on purpose. They’re not interested in feeding on blood. However, if you do get bitten by one, it can be quite painful.
- How do you find a carpenter ant nest?
You can find a carpenter ant nest by looking for signs like wood shavings, ant trails, and rustling sounds.
- Do carpenter ants fly?
Yes, some carpenter ant can fly, but only the winged males and females. These winged ants participate in a nuptial flight in the spring or early summer.