Carpenter ants are one of the more common types of ants that can invade your home. Here are answers to common questions about them and control methods if you’re experiencing an infestation.
Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?
Large black Carpenter ants are common household pests in the United States, and Pennsylvania is no exception.
They tend to inhabit forests and heavily wooded areas. These busy little guys are much larger and darker than their Pavement and Odorous cousins and they tend to be nocturnal foragers. Due to their size and the strength of their jaws, Carpenter ants can bite humans hard enough to break the skin. Thankfully they are not particularly aggressive so the risk to humans and animals is fairly low.
If you live in a wooded area, it is likely you will see Carpenter ants around and sometimes in your house. These industrious creatures are beneficial to the ecosystem by breaking down rotting wood in the forest. However, if they find their way into your home, they can cause structural damage similar to termites.
Unlike termites, Carpenter ants tolerate outside air and sunlight so they will often begin their path of destruction with sheds, decks and wooden siding. Because they do not digest the wood that they eat, they will push the wood dust out of their tunnels leaving behind small piles of sawdust called frass, which is an unmistakable sign of a problem.
Controlling Carpenter Ants
As with most opportunistic insect species, prevention is key to controlling pavement ants that may invade your home.
- Keep Up With Home Maintenance: Clean your gutters to keep water from running down the sides of your house. Loosen compacted soil that allows water to pool near your home’s foundation, and regularly inspect your siding for gaps and holes.
- Move Loose Wood Away From Your House: Never stack firewood or leftover building supplies against your house as that sets up a prime staging area for Carpenter ants.
- Block Their Entrance: Seal up gaps around windows, doors, and plumbing where ants can enter. Also trim branches that brush against the house as the Carpenter ants will see these to access your home.
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Getting Rid of Carpenter Ants
What can you do if carpenter ants are already inside your home?
- Ant Spray: Most of the common ant sprays are effective at getting rid of the ants you can see, however, they can be harmful to kids and pets, so use with caution.
- Set Up Bait Stations: Unlike sprays, ant bait stations can destroy the colony but they are also often toxic to curious pets and small children, which makes them dangerous in many homes.
- Call the Pros: The safest and most effective way to rid your home of these unwanted pests is professional pest control. Technicians use a combinations of safe sprays and bait stations to get rid of the pests in and around your home as well as identifying where they are getting in and suggesting fixes.
How We Treat for Carpenter Ants
Our technician will inspect your property to identify possible points of entry and suggest fixes in addition to treating the problem with insecticide spray.
If you’re dealing with ants in or around your home and want to get rid of them, we’re here to help! Learn more about our pest control approach and pricing.