HOW THEY LOOK LIKE
Carpenter ants are the pest found dark in colour and their size is between 6-12 mm. Wings of swarmers are bigger between 18-20 mm in length.
Carpenter ants look like a harmless insect but they actually have the ability to chew tons of wood and make it rot. For this reason they can be more destructive than other pests. Here we will elaborate some of the key damages caused by them:-
CARPENTER ANT DAMAGE
As compare to termites, carpenter ant infestation is hard to found until it reaches to its extreme level. The type of damage caused by them is not similar to termites. Termites feed through cellulose which is found in wood. Carpenter ants dig up tunnels or galleries in decayed wood but do not eat wood. It will make the wood hollow and will cause significant structural damage. Termites cause damage rapidly while carpenter ants will take years to carry out significant damage.
The main culprit of their infestation is the moisture problem. For example, these creatures are mostly found near sink, dishwashers, bathrooms and laundry areas. Avoid the source of moisture will minimize their infestation chances. They can feed on dead leaves/insects and have the ability to live outside looking for food scraps and foraging indoor structure.
HOW TO RESOLVE CARPENTER ANT INFESTATION
The first resolving technique is to find Carpenter ants’ nest. Try to locate sawdust which is created by them while digging their tunnels. Nest location is the key factor during eradicating procedure. A vacuum cleaner can also help you to get rid of them. Afterward, always dispose of the bag to prevent ants to return. A mature Carpenter ant nest may have other satellite nests, which are to be found and remove as well, which will result in reliable eradication.
TIPS TO PREVENT AND INFESTATIONS
Some of these simple tactics will help you to avoid these insects:-
- Seal all suspected entrance points or cracks.
- Fill out water and electrical lines which can become their entry points.
- Avoid tree branches to be touched with your home or office structure. Branches become a path for them to reach your site.
- Always store firewood far away from your house.
- Always inspect wood for any infestation before bringing it in the home.
- All food items must be stored in sealed containers.
- Clean your kitchen on regular basis especially the points which have moisture.
- Remove any kind of stumps, log or wood under the structure.
- All attics and crawl spaces should be well ventilated.
- All wooden parts of decks and porches should not be touching the ground.
- Fix all leaky points in pipes and roof.
- Destroy garbage far away from your home as this can become their resting point.
HIRING A PEST PROFESSIONAL COMPANY
Getting rid of them may not be an easier job. You may need a professional pest control company to help you. The first step would be to pinpoint their nest’s location. This company may treat the problem by using the drilling procedure. Occupants may need to vacate their residence for a specific time period.
Muhafiz Pest Control is a specialist company in dealing with various kinds of insects. Give us a chance to show our ability.
