Carpenter Ants - How to Prevent an Infestation

Carpenter Ants (Camponotus) are the largest ants found throughout the United States. They range in color, from black to brown, or a combination of both. Black carpenter ants are commonly found in the Northeastern side of the U.S. They have 6 legs, elbowed antennas, a slender waist and the size range from 1/4 of an inch, to 1/2 an inch for a worker ant, and 3/4 inch for a queen. Black Carpenter ant swarmers emerge from a mature colony usually beginning in early spring (May) through the summer. The carpenter ant swarmer's has 2 pair of wings, but the second pair are shorter than the first.
 Carpenter Ants can cause serious damage to wood inside and outside your home. Unlike termites that eat wood, carpenter ants excavate galleries and build nests to rear their young. This is especially harmful in wood support members such as sill plates, floor joists, rim joist, posts and beams, to mention a few. They can be found in logs, firewood, moist damp wood, and tree stumps. Though they can be found in dry wood, carpenter ants prefer wood with a high moisture content. The longer the colony stays in the wooden structure, the more damage they will do to your home. Over time any structural wood they attack can be weakened, resulting in unlevel, or sagging floors, bulging walls, or worse.
 Debris that carpenter ants produce from excavating wood, such as saw dust like shavings mixed with body parts of dead ants, is a clear indication of a nearby nest.

Prevention

Carpenter Ants are usually found near moisture, and rotting or decaying wood. Home owners should make sure their gutters and downspouts are functioning properly. If holes or leaks exist in the gutter system, that can allow rain water to accumulate around the home, thus attracting carpenter ants. Replace all dysfunctional gutters and downspouts. Adding downspout extensions, or splash blocks is also helpful in keeping water from accumulating around the structure.
The grading around the structure should slope slightly to allow rain water to drain away, instead of toward the structure, or from settling around it.

Where wood is in contact with soil, these areas should be closely examined. If nests are discovered, replace the infested wood if seriously damaged. Exterior steps, posts, or railings should rest on concrete pads instead of in, or on the soil.

Stopping water from entering the home is very important. Repair all roof leaks and replace missing shingles if needed. Have the flashing on the roof inspected, especially roof penetrations such as plumbing vents and chimney flashings. Clean gutters of leaves and dirt to prevent them from overflowing.
Caulk and screen any potential entryway ants may use to gain access, like doors and windows, and outside water connections. Ventilate areas where moisture accumulates, or where high humidity exists, such as crawlspaces, attics and storage rooms.

Vegetation in the form of bushes, hedges and tree branches should be trimmed back at least one foot away from the exterior walls, and tree branches overhanging roofs should be cut back. When vegetation is in contact with exterior walls, or roofs, this is conducive for pest infestation.

While wood mulch is good for plants, it also attracts wood destroying insects, including termites. If you have wood mulch, or plan to have some put around your home, many pest control professionals strongly recommend having the mulch treated to prevent the infestation of wood destroying insects. Wood mulch can be sprayed, or granular bait can be applied.

 Carpenter ants have their place in nature, however, we don't want them in and around our homes. With careful planning, and good home maintenance and repair, we can reduce the use of pesticide and co-exist with the insect world.

How To Get Rid Of Ants In Your Home or Business

     

One of the most successful life forms on earth are ants, in fact according to many pest management professionals ants are at the top of the list when it comes to structural pests. What makes them so successful is their efficiency, tenaciousness, resiliency and numbers. It's a good thing that most ants live outdoors, however, some make their nest in or around structures and therefore can become a nuisance, get into food, attack humans and/or cause structural damage. In order to successfully get of ants, properly identifying the type of ants and why they are drawn to the structure is key.                                                                                                                                                        

Types of Ants     

There are many different types of ants. Identifying these type of ants that are invading your property is huge because each species are drawn to different foods and environments. There are 3 types of ants that are commonly known to invade your house or place of business. Those 3 are Carpenter Ants, Pavement Ants, and Argentine Ants. Let's take a look at Carpenter Ants. Carpenter Ants are drawn to wood, but not just any wood. They like to nest in wood that has a high moisture content and suffered water damage and has been softened up by decay. High humidity is essential for the development of carpenter ant eggs and larvae. They do however have the ability to create an environment of humidity and can thus spread into sound wood.

        Pavement Ants are commonly found in commercial buildings. They get their name because of nesting under the pavement and sidewalks. They are known for making soil mounds commonly seen in sidewalks, pavement cracks, around foundations and decorative stones. Anything that provides a protective cover you can find pavement ants. Inside structures they can be found nesting inside walls, in wall insulation, and under floors. This species of ants particularly likes to be near heat sources. Indoor swarms can happen if they are found under slabs.

                                                            

Argentine Ants are seen above when indoor nests near moisture sources such as water pipes, sinks, and potted plants. When conditions outdoors are unfavorable, such as too wet or too dry, they can invade buildings in large numbers. Because they crawl over refuse, sputum, and carrion to mention a few, they are responsible for spreading disease organisms.

                                                                              

These are just three species of ants commonly found in structures, but there are many more such as Fire Ants, Acrobat Ants, Thief Ants, Odorous House Ants and the Little Black Ants each with their own habits and preferences, so identification is a key to long term control. Identifying the problem ant brings us to the next key formula of getting rid of ants - Inspection

                                                        

Inspection and Treatment

There are three components to an inspection -  1) Finding the Nest, 2) Detecting Foraging Routes and 3) Spotting conditions conducive to infestations. Many people use over the counter gels or liquid baits to fight an infestation. Improperly placements of gels or liquid baits will do little good. Also used are over the counter sprays, but this only kills the ants that are seen or foraging for food. Locating the nest goes a long way if you are to eliminate ants for good. Sometime locating the nest is not possible, so looking for other conditions is helpful. Look for and repair broken seals around windows and doors, water damaged wood and cracks in foundation walls. Of course sanitation is very important inside as well as outside. Correct any moisture related issues inside and outside the structure. Keeping the perimeter of the structure dry and keeping vegetation growth at least one foot from the structure will aid in ridding your home or business from ants.                                                                                                        

If these tactics are ineffective call your local pest control professional. They have experience in locating and treating the nest, applying a barrier treatment, baiting and applying a residual that is safe and long lasting.

                                                                                                                                                                                  

                                                       

                                                 

                                        

                                                                             

        

Carpenter Bees And The Damage They Cause

Termites and carpenter ants are the most destructive insects of wood in structures found in the United States. Yet another insect that must be addressed are Carpenter Bees. Although not as destructive as termites, or carpenter ants, carpenter bees can do their fair share of damage to the exterior of structures. During the summer months, Home Inspectors and Pest Control Professionals (PCP) will be attentive to the damage that results from an infestation of carpenter bees.

                                                                    Characteristics of Carpenter Bees

                                                                                   

Carpenter bees Closely resemble bumble bees in that they both have a stocky or robust build. The major difference in their physical characteristic is that the top surface of the abdomen of the carpenter bee is bare black and shiny, whereas the bumble bee has many body hairs and appears fuzzy. Carpenter bees have a dense area of hairs on the hind legs, bumble bees however have dense yellow hairs on the abdomen and large pollen baskets on the hind legs.

                                                                           Structural Damage

                                                                               

Carpenter bees do not eat wood, but the females bore circular holes, about 1/2 inch wide at a right angle for about an inch deep into the wood they infest. They begin to excavate galleries in the direction of the wood grain for about 4-6 inches and this is where they make their nest. They can nest in all species of dried seasoned wood, but they prefer softwood like cedar, redwood, cypress, pine, and fir. They will bore in wooden members on houses such as eves constructed with pine and on decks, fences and dead tree limbs.  It's these areas that home inspectors and pest control professionals will take a closer look to determine if any activity exist. Carpenter bees are known to return to the same wood year after year to drill nests and lay eggs. If left untreated the wooden members can weaken resulting in costly repairs.

                                                                                   Treatment

How can you determine if carpenter bees are nesting in structural wood on your property? If you see a number of bees hovering around the eves for an example, they're protecting the entrance to a gallery and will chase away any intruders, including humans. The males do not sting, however who wants to wait around to determine males from females? If you suspect you have carpenter bees, call a pest control operator. Many have found closing the holes with corks helpful. Painting the wood will not protect it from carpenter bees, but it is helpful since they prefer bare, exposed wood. Some pest control professionals as a last resort use a pesticide in the form of dust that's applied inside the galleries that acts as a residual and is effective in the control of carpenter bees.

For more on home inspections, insects and treatments visit us at:

www.closerlookpi.com

Difference Between Termite Swarmer and Flying Ant

 Termites that are most often seen by the general public are the winged reproductive adult termite also known as swarmers, alate, and flying termites. These termites have dark bodies about 3/8-inch in length. They are equipped with two pairs of gauzy wings identical in size and shape that extends beyond the body to twice its length. The antennae resemble a string of little beads.

Ants also have colonies that release winged reproductive,and because they swarm at the same time, (usually from March to July) flying ants are often mistaken for termites. Ant swarmers, like termite swarmers are dark in color. An example is the northeastern carpenter ant which is typically dark brown to black. Both species have wings that extend beyond its body. With both being similar in size and color and the fact they swarm at the same time, its easy to see why some mistake one for the other. Telling the difference between the two is very important for the purpose of an effective treatment.


                                                          Termite Swarmer vs Flying Ant 

                                        termite swarmer (left) and a flying ant (right) 

The termite has wings of equal size and cloudy.              Ant hind-wings smaller than fore-wings      

Many fine conspicuous veins through out wings            Very few dark conspicuous veins in wings

 Broad Waist                                                                      Constricted, slender Waist

Straight Antenna resembles string of beads                       Elbowed Antenna

                                                                      Inspection

If you suspect you have either one of these insects, or both contact a pest control company licensed in wood destroying insect extermination. Over the counter products cannot and will not get rid of these pest. A pest control professional (PCP) will conduct an inspection of your property to locate the nest(s), assess any damage, determine the extent of the infestation, ascertain conditions conducive for infestation and prescribe the proper treatment.