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Noticing piles of sawdust throughout your home, but haven’t been doing any renovations? These small piles of saw dust could be a sign of carpenter ants in homes.

Incessantly chewing, carpenter ants can cause severe damage to your home, if left untreated.

What is a Carpenter Ant?

Carpenter ants are just one of many species of ants found in Canada. Boasting a very slim waist, a reddish-brown colour and bent antennae, carpenter ants are known for chewing through wood. Termites are commonly confused with carpenter ants. Unlike a termite, carpenter ants do not consume wood; termites have a thick waists and straight antennae.

How do I know if I have a Carpenter Ant issue?

One of the first things you’ll notice is piles of what looks like saw dust around wooden areas of your home. Since carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood they chew through as they build their nest, they deposit the saw dust outside of the nest.

Carpenter ants are attracted to soft or moist wood. If you have had any water damage in your home, you could be more susceptible to a carpenter ant infestation. Wet or rotting wood is easy for carpenter ants to chew through, making damaged wood a top choice for building their nests.

Another way to know if you’re dealing with a carpenter ant issue is to listen. Nighttime is a busy time for ants, and typically a more quiet time in your home; making the evenings the best time to listen for carpenter ants. As they build their nests, its common to hear a rustling, crunching sound.

Dealing with Carpenter Ants

The best way to deal with any type of ant infestation is to prevent an ant infestation. Because they don’t actually eat the wood they chew through, carpenter ants have a very similar diet to other ants. Attracted sweets and any leftover crumbs, your kitchen is a huge attraction for ants. Making sure all food is stored properly and sealed tightly in containers will deter ants from settling into your home.

If you’ve already got a carpenter ant infestation, here’s what to do:

Finding the nest is a very important step in getting rid of carpenter ants. With the use of a stethoscope, the technicians at ICE Wildlife and Pest Control always find the nest.

Getting rid of any suitable conditions for carpenter ants will aid in their removal. Replacing rotted or water damaged wood with fresh wood will deter the ants from building their nests. Cleaning up in the kitchen and making sure no crumbs are left behind will force the ants to move on and find a new home.

Removing carpenter ants from your home is no easy feat. Having your home treated, from top to bottom, by a professional pest control expert will ensure your home will be free from carpenter ants. The technicans at ICE Wildlife and Pest Control pay special attention to all wooded areas in your home. Treating your attic, baseboards, windows and doors with the right pesticide will get rid of carpenter ants for good. During the summer months, having an exterior treatment done will prevent any further infestations.

 

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Carpenter ants can cause structural damage to your home. Don’t wait, and have them expertly removed today! Click here to learn more.