Carpenter Ants

How do you know if you have a problem?

Carpenter ants are a common problem for many households across the country. These ants get their name from their habit of hollowing out galleries, or tunnels, in wood for nesting purposes.

Carpenter ants may be most noticeable in the spring when swarms of large winged ants hover near windows or wingless ants forage through kitchens and pantries. A sure sign of infestation is the appearance of small openings in the surface of wood. through these, worker ants expel debris which consists of sawdust-like shavings, fragments of insulation and insect pieces. The accumulation of this debris below small holes, particularly in window sills, indicates an infestation. A more subtle sign may be a rustling sound coming from wall voids or from wood where the colony is located.

Once the colony has been treated, a periodic barrier treatment of TERMIDOR around your home will prevent further infestation by carpenter ants. This service will also prevent infestation by other common household pests such as spiders, crickets and cockroaches.

Trimming the branches of trees or shrubs that contact your house as well as caulking any gaps where power or water lines enter the building can also be helpful in preventing further infestations.