How To Identify A Black Carpenter Ant
Black carpenter ants in your home are generally easy to recognize because of their three distinct body parts: they have a head, thorax, and abdomen. They are also larger than most other species, measuring between 1/2 to 5/8 inches long. While they are often black, they can come in other colors like red, brown, or red-and-black. Their segmented bodies are oval-shaped with pinched waists. They crawl on six legs and have antennae that appear “bent.” As their name implies, they are lovers of wood, and while they don’t eat it, they are masters at tunneling through it. When carpenter ants set up a work site within the wooden structures of your home, it won’t be long before their incessant excavating begins to create severe problems for homeowners.
The Damage Carpenter Ants Can Create On Your Property
Carpenter ants in McAllen usually build their nests outdoors. Nests typically get placed in areas with abundant sources of wood. These insects can establish colonies in rotten fence posts, under stones, inside tree stumps, and in old firewood piles. Carpenter ants are generally content to stay around their parent colony, but workers will start to venture away from nests when moisture and food sources outside begin to dwindle. Foraging workers will use cracks and crevices around homes, slip under doors, and crawl across wires, plumbing, or overhanging branches to access food and moisture sources inside homes. Once carpenter ants get inside, it won’t take long before excavation begins. Using their powerful jaws, carpenter ants will start carving out tunnels within the wood to access wall voids for satellite nests. If carpenter ant infestations are allowed to go untreated, their extensive tunneling can result in the following problems:
- Warped framing
- Floors that slope
- Doors and windows that constantly stick
- Holes in your woodwork
Carpenter ants may seem tiny to humans, but they can cause big problems within homes if left untreated. When signs of a carpenter ant infestation start popping up, it’s time to call the professionals at BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control for expert carpenter ant pest control solutions.
Why You Shouldn’t Try To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants On Your Own
Nobody enjoys coming home and finding large black ants crawling in various areas of their home. Often, a homeowner’s first thought is to try and save money with store-bought carpenter ant sprays, bug bombs, poisons, and ant baits. The reality is that carpenter ants aren’t scared of your over-the-counter remedies. Large colonies of carpenter ants can have as many as 50,000 members, so if you don’t treat all the ant nests (both inside and out), they will return repeatedly.
Sprays only kill the worker ants you see; many others are available to take their place. Baits are often ineffective because they usually get set up in the wrong place or aren’t strong enough to eliminate the whole colony. Bombs may sound good but are ineffective because they can’t penetrate walls or go deep enough to affect nests. Poisons are dangerous because curious children or pets can get sick if they accidentally ingest them. Ultimately, the best way to save time and money is by working with a pest professional at BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control; we offer reasonably priced and effective ant control and removal services that work.
Contact The Pros At The First Sign Of Carpenter Ants On The Property
Finding signs of carpenter ants crawling in your home is disturbing, but BUGWORKS Termite & Pest Control has over 18 years of experience helping McAllen homeowners with quality pest control solutions. Our company is locally owned and operated and has a reputation for providing our customers with exceptional and effective ant control services. We recognize that everyone’s needs are different, so you have our promise to listen to your concerns and come up with reasonably priced solutions that will address your specific needs. If you’re being “pestered” by tenacious carpenter ants, contact us today for a free quote; we won’t rest until your home is pest-free.