The Real Cost of Leaving Carpenter Ants Untreated
Carpenter ants cause damage. Individually, people rarely consider ants a threat to their property. Although ants are annoying to see and deal with both indoors and outdoors, carpenter ants can cause significant structural damage and result in substantial costs for homeowners. It is a mistake to leave carpenter ants untreated, thinking they will go away on their own or cause minimal harm. In Chicago, carpenter ants are responsible for forcing people out of their homes and requiring extensive ant treatments, including the added expense of repairs from the damage they cause. The best course of action for any pest problem is to address it promptly. The warmer weather raises breeding time, and a small ant problem can quickly become an infestation. The magnitude of damage from carpenter ants is often shocking!
Identifying Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants often get mistaken for termites, which makes sense because both are found making their home in wood. However, there are some easy-to-identify physical characteristics to tell the two species apart. Carpenter ants have bent antennae, two small wings and two larger wings, pinched waists, and are typically black or brown. In some cases, carpenter ants will be reddish. On the other hand, termites’ antennae are straight; all four wings are equal in size, they are straight without cinching, and creamy in color unless they are swarming when they appear brow.
This is for information only because, regardless of whether you are dealing with termites or carpenter ants, you need to call a professional. Once you see increased activity or find a nesting location, home remedies are not going to work. Professional ant and pest control companies can easily treat for both of these pests, leaving your home pest-free. Professional pest control companies will offer free inspections so they can effectively target the pests in and around your home. The best pest technicians also know how to locate infestations, exterminate pests, and treat them so they don’t return.
The Carpenter Ant’s Diet
Since carpenter ants don’t eat wood, they need sources of energy. These ants, as with all ant species, are found eating sweets like sugar, honey, and syrup. Carpenter ants will also find meat, pet foods, other insects, and other nectar sources.
There are more than 120 ant species in Illinois, with just under 50 different species identified specifically in the Chicago area. It isn’t your job to figure out which ones you have in your home. It is something that is best left to someone with the knowledge and experience to treat it immediately.
Typical Carpenter Ant Behavior
As the name would suggest, carpenter ants are attracted to wood. The ants begin their nesting in wet and moldy wood. Contrary to what most believe, carpenter ants burrow holes in wood that cause damage. Termites are pests that actually eat wood but can also cause significant damage if left untreated. The ant tunnels become the nesting areas for the carpenter ant queen, and the colonies. Unfortunately, without a trained eye to know what to look for, most people in Chicago don’t realize they have an ant problem until it is a full-blown infestation.
Carpenter ants begin in easy-to-penetrate wood and begin building. Although these persistent ants start with wet and moldy wood, as the wood becomes dry, they are able to continue penetrating beyond their original target. Spring and summer temperatures increase carpenter ant activity significantly, and much of this is contributed to by carpenter ant swarming during these seasons. If you live in Chicago, you have probably already found evidence of ants in and around your home. The first step is to call a professional for an inspection, extermination of existing adult ants, and treatment to kill off the eggs and larvae. Effective treatments can keep ants away for the whole summer and beyond.
Avoid Damaging Ants
Termites are one of the worst enemies of wood homes and structures in Chicago. Although carpenter ants do cause damage over time, termites are fast and cause damage in the blink of an eye. A carpenter ant colony that grows and creates satellite colonies over time can cause rot and damage to wood, potentially leading to the collapse of wood structures. Carpenter ants making their homes in decks and porches can result in costly removal and repairs.
Deterring Carpenter Ant Activity
If you do not have carpenter ants, you can do things to minimize their attractiveness to your wood structures. Drying up known leaks, repairing wet and damaged wood areas, and getting rid of dead trees can keep them away, but it’s never guaranteed because you don’t always see them until it’s already a problem. Although swarming may make some people squirm, this season is when you can observe ant activity around your home, so swarming can help you determine if carpenter ants are flying into your home or structure.
Contact the professionals, and don’t try to manage any problems alone this summer. Bigfoot Pest Control is the ant specialist throughout DuPage and Cook Counties, and they would be happy to help you this summer!