Carpenter ants received their name because they build their nests by excavating wood to form smooth tunnels. Although carpenter ants, unlike termites, do not eat wood, they chew through it and can cause significant damage to your home.
In Metro Vancouver, you will find two main species of carpenter ants. The first is the Camponotus Modoc, which has an all-black body with dark red and black legs. The other type of carpenter ant that is found in Metro Vancouver is the Camponotus Vicinus, which is reddish-brown and black. Worker ants in a carpenter ant colony can range in size from 3 mm to 13 mm, and queen ants can grow up to 25 mm long.
Reasons carpenter ants may be attracted to your home
Usually, carpenter ants are most active from April to October. However, some may appear as early as late January. Typically, when you have a carpenter ant infestation, there will be a parent nest with several satellite colonies.
The parent nest requires moisture for the eggs to survive and is usually located outside in old logs or rotted trees. Satellite colonies can migrate from the parent company to build nests in your home. Once inside your home, carpenter ants will look for areas where there is moisture. Areas that are particularly attractive to carpenter ants include spots where moisture has caused the wood to become soft or rotted. If you have a leak that has not been fixed, this may create a suitable environment for carpenter ants to thrive in your home. For that reason, carpenter ants are generally found in bathrooms and kitchens or laundry areas around drains and pipes. They may also be found around roofing vents.
Another thing carpenter ants are searching for when they enter your home is food. Sugar and protein are appealing to carpenter ants. So, if food or scraps are left lying around, you may attract carpenter ants.
What are the signs of a carpenter ant infestation?
Frequent carpenter ant sighting around your home may be a sign that there is a large colony hiding somewhere in your home. Another indication that you may have an infestation is the appearance of small openings on the surface of wood, through which the ants expel debris. This debris may consist of shavings that look like sawdust as well as fragments of ant bodies.
Preventing carpenter ant infestation
The best defence against carpenter ants is preventing an infestation in the first place. To reduce the likelihood of an infestation in your home, check the areas that are prone to moisture and ensure there are no leaks or excessive condensation. If you identify areas with water damage, have them repaired as quickly as possible. Also, ensure you properly dispose of food scraps and waste. Since the carpenter ant colonies, indoor is often satellites of a parent nest outside, ensure you remove rotted trees and logs from your yard and store firewood in a dry place.
Do you need help getting rid of carpenter ants?
If you have noticed signs of a carpenter ant infestation and need the help of a Vancouver ant control company, contact us at Pest Detective. At Pest Detective, our pest control experts have been protecting homes in the Metro Vancouver area from carpenter ants and other pests for over 30 years.
When you choose to work with us, you will find that we care about the environment. For that reason, all our methods of ant control use environmentally friendly, non-toxic solutions.
So, do not hesitate to call us to schedule an inspection with one of our ant exterminators. Let us help you keep carpenter ants out of your home.
