Carpenter ants, the sneaky wood-dwelling builders of the insect world, might not always let everyone know they’re there by destroying everything in sight. Instead of making a lot of noise like termites, carpenter ants can sneak into your home and quietly eat away at the wood structures. So, when should you start to worry that you might have a problem with carpenter ants? Let’s talk about the signs that it’s time to do something.
Don’t ignore strange things you see.
You might not think much of seeing a few ants around your house. But if you see ants inside your home often, especially during the colder months, it could mean that they have made a home there. Carpenter ants are wanderers who go where the opportunities are, so if you see them inside a lot, it’s time to look deeper.
Sawdust Trails Are Nature’s Warning Signs
Carpenter ants are good at digging, and they leave behind signs that show where they’ve been. Frass, which looks like sawdust, is one of the things that stands out the most. If you see small piles of this stuff around wooden structures or openings, it’s a clear sign that carpenter ants are working their way through your house.
Something to do at night: Listen up
Carpenter ants are nocturnal, which means that they usually do most of their work at night. Don’t think that your house is settling if you hear weak rustling sounds coming from your walls or ceilings when the lights are out. It could be carpenter ants working hard to build their nests in the wood of your house.
Wood That Sounds Hollow: Getting into Trouble
Even if you don’t have a carpenter’s ear for wood, you can still find possible pests with a simple trick. Tap gently on wooden buildings that you think might have carpenter ants. If the wood sounds hollow instead of solid, this means that these insects have been working hard to hollow it out from the inside.
Broken wood: When it starts to get weak
As long as carpenter ants keep making holes in wood, the wood’s structure gets weaker. If you notice that a piece of wood is particularly soft, weak, or falls apart when you touch it, it’s likely that carpenter ants have been busy hollowing it out. This damage to your home’s structure could make it less safe, so you shouldn’t ignore it.
Thrown Away Wings: The Results of Reproduction
When they are ready to mate, winged carpenter ants come out of their homes. After this “nuptial flight,” they lost their wings and left them behind as proof that they had been there. If you find discarded ant wings near windowsills, doors, or other places of entry, it means that carpenter ants have moved into your home.
Expanding the search for satellite nests
In addition to their main homes, carpenter ants often build satellite nests. If you find multiple eggs both inside and outside, it’s clear that you have a big problem. These secondary nests add to the damage being done to your home’s structure as a whole.
Buildings that sag are signs of stress
As carpenter ants eat away at wooden supports, you may start to see small signs of stress in the structure. Doors and windows that don’t open or close smoothly or floors that aren’t level can all be signs that carpenter ants have damaged the wood underneath.
If you need help from a professional, don’t wait.
Even though it’s normal to want to take care of the problem yourself, a carpenter ant problem can quickly get out of hand. If you’ve found more than one sign of an infestation, it’s time to call a professional pest control service. They have the skills, tools, and knowledge to correctly assess the situation and put in place effective strategies for eradication.
The faster you protect your home, the better.
In the end, the best way to deal with carpenter ants is to act quickly. The longer you wait to do something about it, the more damage these hardworking bugs can do. If you don’t pay attention to the signs of a carpenter ant problem, it could cause major structure damage and cost a lot to fix. So, if you’ve noticed any of these signs, don’t wait. Take action right away to protect your home from the sneaky builders of the ant world.
Our ant control services are backed up with a 6-month service warranty. If ants return, so will we for no additional charge. Call 647-557-7491