Carpenter Ants
What Are Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are social insects. They are among the largest species of ant found in Washington D.C., Maryland and much of the United States. These ants have strong mandibles, which they use to excavate wood. They do this for nesting purposes. The first sign that you may have a carpenter ant problem is by spotting large, black ants in or around your home.
Often you may only see a handful of ants over several days. Another sign of carpenter ant activity is the small piles of sawdust they leave behind as they tunnel their way through wood. This debris, known as “frass”, will collect beneath the site of the nest and oftentimes will include parts of dead insects.
Carpenter ants are generally black, red or brown or a combination of red and black. The workers in a colony can range from 1/8th of an inch to 1/2 of an inch in length with the queen reaching nearly 1 inch in length.
Why do I have them?
Carpenter ant colonies naturally occur outdoors. They will infest wood in homes and other structures. They prefer wood that has already been damaged by water. If you discover large black ants inside your home, they are likely to be part of a nearby satellite colony.
Once inside, carpenter ants will forage for food debris and water inside kitchens and bathrooms. Carpenter ants, like most species of ants, gain access to your home through eaves, door frames, and window frames. They also sneak in via openings around plumbing and utility lines.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Carpenter ants are not typically thought of as dangerous. They generally do not bite. The real concern with an infestation of carpenter ants is with their ability to damage and weaken the structural integrity of your home.
Getting rid of carpenter ants can be particularly difficult. They tend to have an intricate network of many nests that are all interlinked. If just one nest is not treated then these pests can rebound and reform. That’s why it is important to contact the pest professionals at American Pest. For the best results, we recommend our Preferred Care home pest control services to get rid of carpenter ants. This home pest control plan also targets other common household invaders. A seasonal pest control service, is effective in preventing carpenter ant infestations. It is also backed by our Pest Free Pledge. If pests return between scheduled visits, American Pest returns at no extra charge.
Do-it-yourself methods that kill carpenter ants are rarely effective. Many over-the-counter pesticide products are not an acceptable means to control carpenter ant colonies. At American Pest we train our professionals to seek out foraging carpenter ant trails around your property. This ensure that we locate and eradicate the entire colony. Oftentimes, this may eliminate the need to use chemical treatments on the interior of your home.
At American Pest, we take great pride in our ability to help you as quickly as possible. We strive to reach you the same or very next day.
We put the health and safety of you and your family first. Every product used by American Pest has been EPA registered for pest control use. We then follow a strict set of guidelines in every application of product to ensure that no harm will come to your family or pets.
It can be difficult to prevent carpenter ants from entering your property. When you contact American Pest for carpenter ant control, our professionals will consult with you to provide a customized, effective solution. We’ll resolve your carpenter ant problem using our S.T.A.R. system of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Contact us today to learn more.
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“I called American Pest because of an ant problem but they wound up treating so much more. Great conversation with the main office and the tech who came to the house was incredibly punctual, courteous, extremely knowledgeable/excited about his work. Happy to say I no longer share the house with ants or any other insects!”
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