On average, a carpenter ant nest can easily hold more than 50,000 workers. While that may be an impressive number for ants, it’s not something you want dwelling in your home, especially when humid weather can easily translate into ant season!
Every spring, our six-legged insect friends emerge, begin to forage, and attempt to invade our commercial and residential properties in Puyallup, Tacoma, Auburn, Gig Harbor, Lacey, Lakewood, University Place, Federal Way, and nearby locations. While there are many home remedies for carpenter ant control, in this blog post, we’ll discover some additional tips to help you in your battle against ants this year so you can enjoy an ant-free spring and summer with confidence.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are common, wood-excavating pests that sometimes invade commercial and residential properties. They’re quite large and are typically black, which sets them apart quite easily from other ant varieties, such as harmless sugar ants or aggressive fire ants.
Leading pest control exterminators in Auburn, WA, reveal that these ant variants can cause significant damage to structures with their nest-building activities. Several different species exist, but the black carpenter ant, Camponotus Pennsylvanicus, is the most common home invader in most areas.
What Causes Carpenter Ants?
1. Insects:
Leading pest control contractors in Puyallup, WA, state that, like other ant species, carpenter ants feast largely on other insects and sweet substances, including the sticky honeydew excretions of aphids.
2. Food:
In addition to sweet food like table sugar, carpenter ants in University Place, Federal Way, Tacoma, WA, and surrounding areas will find unsealed food sources in your property, such as grains, flour, cereals, and even meat.
3. Wet wood:
Carpenter ants, in general, are attracted to wet conditions in and around your residence, which can be caused by excessive rain, humidity, plumbing problems, and condensation.
4. Old wood piles:
Inspecting dead trees or old wood piles on your property may reveal carpenter ant colonies. Top pest control services in Tacoma, WA, caution that carpenter ants may eventually enter your property’s framing if these outdoor colonies are within 300 feet of your home.
What Damage Can Carpenter Ants Cause In Your Home?
Top pest control services in Federal Way, WA, caution that larger colonies can cause structural damage, but carpenter ants are way less showy than termites. You won’t really know how bad it is until you locate the nest in your home.
Because carpenter ants are drawn to moist wood caused by improperly sealed siding or leaking water, people often think they do much more damage than they’re owed credit for. Many times, part of the damage associated with them is due to moisture-related rot.
When to call a professional?
Leading carpenter ant removal experts in Federal Way WA, reveal that if you’ve noticed an increase of ants indoors lately, you may have an ant infestation. Some common signs that you need to call a carpenter ant exterminator include:
1. Presence of Ant Nests:
Carpenter ant nests found outdoors or inside your property are a major sign of a potential infestation. Top carpenter ant removal specialists in Auburn, WA, reveal that nests usually look like a small pile of soil or dirt. However, whether there’s a single ant nest or multiple nests in your residence, they can pose significant issues. So, if you even suspect a potential infestation in your home, book a pest inspection with a credible service like Long Pest Control, Inc. right away.
2. Sawdust Trails:
While it may seem minor to see little trails of sawdust on your property, it can indicate a major ant infestation. Leading pest exterminators in Federal Way, WA, reveal that carpenter ants are often responsible for these trails. They have a penchant for nesting within man-made structures and gnawing on wood, resulting in the accumulation of fine dust. Due to their ability to inflict significant structural damage to residences, you should waste no time contacting the professionals at Long Pest Control, Inc.
3. Increased Sightings of Ants
If you’ve noticed ants swarming food crumbs on the counter, floor, or in your pet’s food bowl, chances are your home is infested with carpenter ants. While ants are known to travel long distances to source their food, if they show up quickly, they may actually be living in your home.
4. New Noises
Leading carpenter ant experts in Gig Harbor, WA, reveal that carpenter ants are actually active at night. They’re prone to making a distinct munching sound in the evening hours while gnawing on wood and a rustling sound while building nests. So, if you’ve heard any of these sounds coming from your floorboards, walls, or woodwork, you might have an infestation.
5. Foul Odors
If your property has taken on a new but terrible odor, there’s a strong possibility of a carpenter ant infestation.
How Long Pest Control Can Help?
One of the technicians at Long Pest Control, Inc. will visit your property in Federal Way, Puyallup, University Place, Tacoma, Olympia, Auburn, Gig Harbor, WA, and surrounding areas and perform a thorough inspection to discover any indications of ant infestation in or around your home or business. Through this inspection, we can ascertain the specific type of ants responsible for the issue, identify their probable hiding spots, and pinpoint areas within your home or business susceptible to infestation and potential damage.
Once we identify the threat, we implement a solution, which includes applying an effective treatment to prevent and/or eliminate the carpenter ants.
Our carpenter ant control and elimination service includes:
- Identifying any nesting sites in or around your property.
- Spraying ant hills and trails on your property to prevent future infestations.
- Applying our treatment around the foundation of your home or building effectively sets up a defensive shield to keep the carpenter ants away.
Whether you need pavement ant, odorous house ant, moisture ant, or carpenter ant removal services, the dedicated professionals at Long Pest Control, Inc. team can effectively remove current and prevent future ant infestation in or around your commercial or residential property.
Final Takeaway
Since 1979, Long Pest Control, Inc., has been helping residential and commercial property owners maintain clean, sanitary, and pest-free environments in Lacey, Lakewood, Auburn, Gig Harbor, Federal Way, Puyallup, University Place, Tacoma, and nearby areas. As one of the most responsive pest control companies, we’re focused on ensuring your complete satisfaction with speedy services when you need them most.
For more information on our ant control and removal services or to schedule an appointment with our team, call us today at (253) 444-4451 or use our contact form to send us a message.
