Carpenter ants are a common pest through areas of Canada and are often found among homes and businesses. Like any ant, carpenter ants are a nuisance. However, carpenter ants go well beyond annoying invaders. If left unchecked, they can create expensive damages to wood structures and objects. Identifying a carpenter ant infestation can help you get ahead of the problem. If you see smaller ants, you might be seeing pharaoh ants. These ants have their sights set on sweet and oily foods and knowing how to get rid of carpenter ants in house will help you protect your property.
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Common Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation
You See Ants
One sign that you have a carpenter ant problem is seeing the ants in or around your home. Carpenter ants are one of the largest species of ant and range in colour, though most are black or red. The workers are often the ones you see outside the nest, and they are often a quarter of an inch to a half-inch long. During the spring and early summer months, you may see a large ant that has wings.
In an ant colony, the queen is the only one that has wings, but you do not typically see her because she remains hidden in her chamber where her job is to produce eggs to grow the colony. However, she will sometimes spawn male and female ants with wings. These winged ants are known as alates. Alates leave the nest in swarms so they may start their own colony. Therefore, you may sometimes see them during their swarming season.
Debris
Search around your home to see if you can find piles of debris, known as frass. Carpenter ants use their powerful mandibles to chew through wood so they can excavate tunnels for their nest. They do not eat the wood, and so they dump it outside their nest when they are done excavating. Call ant control Toronto services provided by The Exterminators Inc – Pest Control Toronto. if you need help with an ant infestation.
The piles of debris look like small piles of sawdust. Look around to see if you can spot rectangular-shaped openings. Since ants chisel out the wood, the entrance and exit to their nest often looks rectangular in shape. Seeing debris and rectangular-shaped openings is usually a clear sign that you have a carpenter ant infestation.
Sounds
As the carpenter ant population grows, there will be more ants to excavate the tunnels. As they work together to chew through wood, it may create a faint noise detectable to your ears. If you hear something that sounds like faint rustling behind your walls, it could indicate a rather large carpenter infestation.
Make sure you contact a pest control professional as soon as you suspect the presence of carpenter ants in your home. Waiting could end up costing you more money than is necessary. Call us at 647-496-2211 if you need help dealing with pests. We provide pest control solutions in Toronto and surrounding areas.
