An infestation of carpenter ants can be a costly business as they can do a lot of damage to your home. These pests cause problems with the wooden structures of a property, just like termites; but they do so for a different reason. Carpenter ants do not eat wood; they chew away to shape the wood in which they live. They prefer to choose wood that has been compromised by damp. They get inside and they shape out a smooth hollow in which to live.
As the ants do this, so they compromise the structural integrity of a property. This is why it’s so important to deal with carpenter ants as soon as you know that you have a problem. You should find out more about pest control experts in the area, and ask them to help you with the issue. So, how can you tell that there is a problem which needs to be dealt with? The good news is that there are signs of a carpenter ant infestation which you can look out for.
You may see carpenter ants in your home
Carpenter ants are not as hard to see as termites, but they are nocturnal, so you need to be vigilant to spot them. They are larger than other common ants that you may see around your property. They are also black and have wings. You may spot them flying over a short distance. If you spot any ants around your home, you will want to get rid of them but keep a close eye out for carpenter ants especially.
You may hear the sounds that carpenter ants make
Carpenter ants are usually active at night, when there is usually less noise to be heard. If you are sitting at home when it’s quiet, and you hear a soft munching or clicking noise coming from around you or above, there is a good chance that you have a carpenter ant problem.
Carpenter ants may leave debris behind
Carpenter ants do not eat the wood that they chew; they simply move it out of the way. This means that you may see small mounds of wood shavings around your home, where the ants have taken up residence. You may even be able to see the holes they have created to enter the wood. These ants prefer damp wood, so look in areas of your home where damp may exist.
Wooden structures in your home may look different
The more wood that carpenter ants chew away, the more the wooden structures in your home are likely to start to warp. If you notice changes to the shape of any of the wood in your home, tap on it. The wood is likely to sound hollow if carpenter ants have been at work.
As soon as you think you have a problem with carpenter ants, you need to make sure that it’s dealt with. Speak to professional exterminators. They will call to your home, check for any signs of an infestation and get rid of any carpenter ants that are present, quickly and efficiently.