Carpenter ants are a troublesome pest for many homeowners. As they make their nests in and around your home, they look for warm, moist places to burrow, creating tunnels and nests to lay eggs and grow colonies.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
A carpenter ant is somewhat related to the family of insects containing bees and wasps. This member of the Formicidae family of insects lives in large, organized colonies containing workers, scouts, and even queens. Carpenter ants are mostly found in wooded areas, cities, and suburbs, being one of the most common invasive ant species in the entire U.S.
At first glance, a carpenter ant might look like a termite, but there are distinct differences between the two insects you may need to know about when planning for treatment. Here are some of the more distinguishing features of carpenter ants:
- Size varies from 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch
- Three distinct body segments
- Narrowing of the waist between the abdomen and thorax
- Large heads with bent antennae
- Wings
- Color variations of dark red, brown, or black
What Attracts Carpenter Ants to a Home?
Carpenter ants look for certain characteristics of an environment before deciding to make a home there. They look for an abundance of dead, decaying, and moist wood, as this is the stuff that colonies are made of.
A primary source of nutrition is the honeydew that is excreted from the aphids they farm. If they make it inside your home, they’ll happily trade this substance for protein and sugary treats left out on counters and in your garbage. In taking over spaces in your yard, carpenter ants’ colonies are drawn to food left in pet bowls and sticky barbecue grills.
Telltale Signs of Carpenter Ants Around Your Home
Several clues give away the presence of carpenter ants around your home, including:
- Sawdust and wood shavings on the ground
- Visible damage to wood
- Dead insect carcasses
- Crackling sounds inside the walls of your home
- Discarded wing casings
- Seeing ants themselves
If left to their own devices, carpenter ants can destroy a home from the inside out. Building nests in a support structure can severely weaken it, causing irreparable damage. When detecting the presence of carpenter ants, the only course of action is to remove them.
Treatment for Carpenter Ants in Boynton Beach, FL
The most efficient way to get rid of carpenter ants is to find the hub of the nest and eliminate the queen. Indoor carpenter ants are often found nesting in sinks, tubs, and other moisture-rich areas. Check outdoors around tree stumps, firewood stacks, and wet wood structures with visible signs of weakness.
Once the nest is found, it will need to be dealt with using a combination of insecticide or non-tox substances such as borax, boric acid, or diatomaceous earth. A trained professional is the only one who should attempt to use these substances to deal with a carpenter ant infestation, as some of these materials can be harmful to children and pets.
A final step for carpenter ant infestation treatment in Boynton Beach, FL is to bait the remaining ants in the colony. The baiting process can include granular, spray foam, or gel bait that is sprayed into voids in walls and directly into the ant colony itself. Hopefully, ants will bring the bait back into the nest and kill the remaining members of the colony.
Prevention Is Key
Once your home has had treatment for carpenter ants in Boynton Beach, FL, prevention is the next step to ensure that your home remains ant free. Take these steps to discourage ants from building nests around your home:
- Seal food up tightly and don’t leave any out after meals
- Seal up cracks and holes in your foundation
- Trim vegetation around the perimeter of your house
- Remove all rotted and infested wood from your property
- Raise firewood off the ground and place it in a dry place
- Use chemical or non-toxic insecticide barriers around the perimeter of your home
Taking action to secure your home will reduce the likelihood of future infestation.
Ringdahl Pest Control: Carpenter Ant Infestation Treatment in Boynton Beach, FL
Ringdahl Pest Control remains one of the preferred pest control services in Boynton Beach and beyond. Our efficient, budget-friendly options for pest control take the guesswork out of securing your home and keeping it safe from all kinds of pests. Our dedicated pest control professionals are ready to tackle any unwelcome guests that have made themselves known in and around your home. Contact Ringdahl Pest Control for more information on carpenter ant treatment in Boynton Beach, FL. We are ready to serve you!