Local Service, Family Owned

Local Service, Family Owned

Call Us Today Emergency After Hours

Call Us Today
Emergency After Hours

Carpenter Ants

Colour: black, red and black, solid red, or brown
Size: 6 to 25 mm depending on reproductive and worker status

Mature colonies consisting of thousands of ants can be found inside the home and out. They prefer moist decaying wood for their colonies, however, this will not stop them from establishing a colony within the walls or burrowing into solid wood within your home. It is best to get professional help for quick containment because by the time you notice, a colony may have spread extensively throughout your home or property.

Carpenter Ant Habitat

Carpenter ant species reside both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying, or hollow wood, most commonly in forest environments. They cut “galleries” into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Certain parts of a house, such as around and under windows, roof eaves, decks and porches, are more likely to be infested by carpenter ants because these areas are most vulnerable to moisture.

Carpenter Ant Life Cycle

When conditions are warm and humid, winged males and females participate in a nuptial flight. They emerge from their satellite nests and females mate with a number of males while in flight. The males die after mating. These newly fertilized queens discard their wings and search for new areas to establish primary nests. The queens build new nests and deposit around 20 eggs, nurturing them as they grow until worker ants emerge. The worker ants eventually assist her in caring for the brood as she lays more eggs. After a few years, reproductive winged ants are born, allowing for the making of new colonies.

Carpenter Ant Prevention

If you have firewood, construction materials, or some other type of wood product near your exterior walls, consider moving them 20 feet away and elevating them to get them off the ground. Refrain from storing firewood inside your home. Cut branches and bushes back away from your walls to reduce shade. This will allow the sun to dry moisture up and keep the wood of your home from rotting. Wood rot is particularly attractive to carpenter ants. Make sure you have no obstructed gutters and that there are no breaks in the system. When water runs down the side of your home, it can create puddles near your foundation walls and cause wood rot. Address any other water issues near your home. Address any areas that have been rotted. If you’re not able to properly fix things, use a caulking gun to fill holes. Do a detailed inspection of your foundation walls and seal any gaps or cracks you find. 

Ant Service Prep Guide

There are many things that should be done to prepare for a carpenter ant treatment. For the full list of ways to make your carpenter ant treatment successful, view our Ant Service Preparation Guide.

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Greenshield Pest Control is a family business that has been providing exceptional pest control services for more than 30 years.
We only employ licensed technicians and offer 24-7 emergency service!

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