A carpenter ant (sometimes known as a flying ant) is an insect in the Formicidae family related to bees and wasps. Carpenter ants exist in vast colonies made up of workers, scouts, and a queen. They live in woodland regions, suburbs, and cities. They are one of the most numerous and widespread ant species in Canada.
Carpenter ants are distinguished by the following characteristics:
- Measure from 1/2-in. to 5/8-in.
- Three-body segments
- The waist is narrow between the abdomen and the thorax
- Large heads with bent (elbowed) antennae
- A pair of wings with shorter backs than fronts
- Dark red, black, brown, or a colour mixture of these hues.
Carpenter ants acquired their name from the way they destroy the wood that makes up your house and furnishings. While they do not devour wood the same way termites do, they chew and excrete it to create paths for themselves and their hundreds of friends and relatives. If you see odd mounds of particles that resemble wood shavings, you have carpenter ants; this is called ‘frass’.
How Do Carpenter Ants Get Inside?
Carpenter ants like damp and/or mouldy wood, so if there is a moisture problem in any section of your house, they will be drawn there. Carpenter ants do not always infiltrate your house by gnawing their way through the wood, despite their name and preferences. They can come into your house via any crack or small entrance, even if it is far above the ground.
Carpenter ants like to build their nests near water sources inside. There are therefore attracted to the areas around air conditioners, dishwashers, sinks, and bathtubs.
How To Eliminate Carpenter Ants
It’s not as simple as just killing each carpenter ant you come across. Carpenter ant colonies, like other ant colonies, begin with scout ants that search your house for the ideal areas to eat or hang out. Then, after they’ve found a suitable food supply, their pals (the “workers”) follow the trail, constructing a nest in your wall. If this has happened, here’s what you should do next:
Set out bait for the ant to carry back to the nest, and you’ll be able to discover the nest merely by observing them. Because they are drawn to sweets, a little amount of jam or jelly may be enough. Alternatively, combine equal parts sugar and baking soda in a small dish. The sugar attracts the ants, but the baking soda naturally kills them.
Carpenter ants depend on pheromone trails to locate food and travel. To disrupt these trails, wipe clean surfaces with essential oils such as tea tree, lemon, orange, or cedarwood with a cotton ball. Alternatively, mix one-part dish soap with two parts water and pour into a spray bottle. You might also use a 50/50 combination of white vinegar and water.
You’ll need to go through the wall to destroy the nest after you’ve discovered it by following ants, finding frass near a wall, or hearing a slight rustling sound. After that, add boric acid through the perforations with a bulb duster. It is possible that you may need to perform treatments many times to eliminate the nest.
However, by far the best option, and the one that will ensure the job is done right, is to call on the services of a pest control company such as Pest Detective. We are here to help you, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
