The ants go marching one by one, hurrah! Hurrah? While it works in the song, no one ever yells “hurrah!” when ants are invading their home. Not only that but when it comes to carpenter ants, people have significant cause to worry about the damage ants can do to a home.
Carpenter ants like to nest in wood, choosing soft, dead, or water-damaged wood to hollow out for their galleries. These ants will then multiply and develop satellite colonies. They enter homes through places like attic vents, cracks in foundations, utility entry points, and broken screens. They will infest damp moist wood and prefer structural beams in wall voids, hollow doors, window frames, and any wood that has been decayed.
Common signs of a carpenter ant infestation are the sightings of workers inside your home. That means that they may have traveled a distance to forage for food and found themselves inside. Once they have set up a satellite nest, you may find piles of fine wood shavings under wooden items. This is because the carpenter ant burrows into the wood by chewing and spitting it out, unlike termites that actually eat wood. You may also hear faint rustling noises inside of your walls or woodwork. There may be large winged ants emerging from your walls and ceilings, proving that you indeed have a carpenter ant infestation. Other signs of an infestation include bulging walls, sagging ceilings, warped floors, and damaged siding.
There is very little you can do to prevent a carpenter ant infestation, but here are a few tips:
- Eliminate “piles” of wood and other debris in your yard that create a haven for these pests
- Eliminate water sources in your yard and home by fixing leaky pipes
- Keep food tightly sealed in containers with tightly sealed lids
- Clean up food and drink spills immediately
- Empty trash cans regularly and keep them clean
- Keep tight-fitting lids on garbage cans outdoors
- Seal off all entry points including gaps, cracks, and crevices
- Fix or replace all damaged or missing screens, vents, and frames
- Do not leave food out, including pet and bird food
Avoid over the counter sprays and DIY methods because they will not solve the problem, and they can actually be dangerous. It is wise to seek professional intervention for thorough elimination and prevention of carpenter ants before they cause damage to your home. If you are a homeowner in North White Plains, New York, you can count on Parkway Pest Services to get rid of your wood damaging ants and other pests. Call us for more information about the residential pest control plans we offer in North White Plains, NY.