Are carpenter ants dangerous?

While relatively harmless to people, carpenter ants are an important economic pest when they invade houses and other man-made structures. You see, carpenter ants play an important ecological role by helping to break down dead and fallen trees. When they attack damp or wood weakened by decay inside homes and businesses, it is not as beneficial. In fact, not at all. Estimates put carpenter ant damage in the millions every year and that’s just in the United States.

Why do I have a carpenter ant problem?

As mentioned above, carpenter ants will attack damp or rotting wood in your home or on your property. Issues with moisture or plumbing problems such as leaking pipes or decaying wood on your property could result in a carpenter ant infestation. Though carpenter ants excavate wood, they do not eat it and will forage inside the home for food if they can find a way in.  They may also establish satellite colonies inside the home with the parent colony being outside.

How do I tell if I have a carpenter ant infestation?

One sign of a carpenter ant infestation is frass outside their entry holes.  Because this type of ant doesn't eat wood (like termites), they push the frass (a fine sawdust) out of their tunnels.  You're also likely to see these large ants foraging in the kitchen and in other areas of the home or outside.  

How do you get rid of carpenter ants?

In order to get rid of carpenter ants, you must eliminate the parent colony. If you only take care of satellite colonies, it is almost certain that a re-infestation will occur. At Thomas Pest Services, we offer carpenter ant control in Albany and throughout the Capital District and Adirondack regions that will take care of your carpenter ant problem, no matter how severe. We offer several pest management programs that target these large black ants as well as other household pests; our customer service representatives can help you determine which plan works best for your home. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get rid of carpenter ants!

Carpenter ant prevention tips

To prevent carpenter ants from entering your home or structure, you should:

• Fix any leaking pipes or appliances as well as take care of any other plumbing issues inside the home.
• Drain water away from the foundation.
  
• Inspect roof for leaks, especially around chimneys and skylights.
  
• Be sure attics and crawlspaces are vented properly to prevent moisture buildup.
  
• Seal any openings on the exterior of the dwelling including installing screen over vents and caulking around utility lines entering the structure.
  
• Trim back tree branches and shrubbery that overhang or touch the house.
  
• Clear property of branches, tree stumps and other rotted wood and material including landscape timbers and leaves.
  
• Clear clogged gutters and downspouts of leaves and other debris.
  
• Store garbage away from the structure and in durable containers with lids.
  
• Store food in tightly sealed containers rather than in original packaging and don’t leave open food containers on counters.