Carpenter ants can be a major issue for a home when it comes to ants. They commonly make their nests inside structures, and if they get through the wood, it may lead to structural damage. Carpenter ants can be seen in any room of the house, including the bathroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedroom. They can also be found on plant and tree trunks, as well as moist, partially rotted wood stumps. Here are some tips to identify and get rid of carpenter ants from your home:

What is a carpenter ant?

A carpenter ant, often known as a flying ant, is an insect that belongs to the Formicidae family. Usually, Carpenter ants are found living in large colonies. They get their name from the fact that they create smooth tunnels inside the wood to construct their nests. However, they don’t actually eat wood; they only chew through it to make nests. 

How do carpenter ants look?

Carpenter ants can range in size and color depending on the species, but they are often larger than other types of house ants and are normally black with red or yellow hues. Carpenter ants are available in a variety of sizes and can range in length from 3.4 to 13 millimeters, which is longer than other types of house ants. They have thin waists and twisted antennae, while male and female carpenter ants can have wings, though the queens lose wings when they start a colony. Carpenter ants can be found in wooded areas, suburbs, and urban areas. It could be difficult to distinguish the characteristics of a carpenter ant with a magnifying glass. In reality, identifying it is quite troublesome. When we get there, we’ll locate the major colony, eradicate any ants, and assess the damage. 

Warning signs of carpenter ants in and around your home

It's challenging to locate carpenter ants in your house. Carpenter ant infestations usually go undetected until it’s too late, leading to a costly problem that is difficult to resolve. They can destroy a variety of wooden objects, including decks, furniture, floors, and supporting wood. In order to protect your home or place of business from carpenter ants, it’s critical to keep an eye out for signs of carpenter ant infestation warning signs, especially during the summer when these pests are most active. Being aware of the symptoms can enable you to prevent an infestation as soon as it begins. Some signs of a carpenter ant infestation are listed below:

• Scurrying around your house

Carpenter ants don’t eat timber; therefore, you might observe them lined up and entering your home directly in search of food. They are mainly nocturnal wanderers and can be seen in the kitchen looking for tasty items or crumbs on the floor

• Look for “Frass,” A Sawdust-Like Substance

Carpenter ants create paths by cutting through deadwood. During this process, they leave “frass,” which is a sawdust-like substance. Before sweeping the floor, you constantly find trails of sawdust; this may show an infestation.

• Keep an ear for rustling noises from walls

When there is a severe infestation, you might detect faint sounds coming from the walls. If you pay close attention and hear rustling sounds, it may show a large colony nearby. Typically, the noises are caused by the carpenter ants crawling around or chewing the wood to create tunnels.

• Wood Damages

When piles of frass and rustling noises become commonplace, begin checking your home for damaged wood. They are a sign that carpenter ants have seriously harmed the wood around your home.

• Damp Areas

Check moist areas in your home if you’ve noticed carpenter ants but can’t figure out where they’re hiding. Wet wood is ideal for carpenter ants since it is easy to chew through. So, it is usual to find them in places that are prone to moistness. Check the wood around your kitchen and bathroom, as well as any other area that has had leaks in the past. Besides that, moisture may be present near window or door frames since carpenter ants like to build their nests there because it’s easy and convenient.

At A2 Pest Management, we offer custom pest removal solutions to help you get rid of carpenter ants in Sydney and surrounding areas at reasonable rates. Contact us, and our staff, with their expertise and years of experience, will give you the best possible service, ensuring that this problem never happens again.