Carpenter ants are the obsession of owners of buildings with wooden frames, because this insect can cause irreversible damage and put lives at risk. What exactly are the risks associated with carpenter ants, and how to prevent their invasion?
Carpenter ants at a glance
This insect has a fairly impressive life span. The queen lives to 17 years and the workers, seven years. The most intriguing is that as a queen lays dozens of eggs a year, the proliferation is very fast. In three years, a nest of carpenter ants can reach 2,000 ants.
Unlike termites, this species of ant does not eat wood, but digs it. His favorite habitats are wet and rotten wood. This is why it attacks indiscriminately the carpentry, stairs or floors.
What are the signs of an invasion of carpenter ants?
If you notice accumulations of sawdust under the woodwork, a rather special rustle in the walls, easier to hear at night, or a high concentration of ants at a specific location this summer, is that you are infested with carpenter ants . As it was said above, the carpenter ant does not eat the wood, but digs it and then throws the debris close to it, which leads to a weakening of the latter.
As a result, more time passes and more damage is important, because in the long run, some structures such as a window sill or a door corner can break.
How to avoid infestation of carpenter ants during summer?
Summer is a favorite time for carpenter ants to infiltrate woodwork and proliferate. Here are some steps to take to prevent the spread of carpenter ants in summer:
- As early as the summer, caulk around doors and windows and seal all cracks or openings in the structure of your buildings. Carpenter ants usually find all the pretexts to come and settle in your property.
- Avoid storing wood inside the house unless the area is adequately controlled and the wood does not contain ants at the beginning. Also, do not leave piles of wood in contact with the exterior siding. It was more appropriate to raise them.
- Repair and prune fallen or damaged trees and remove stumps. Above all, do not bury stumps, because ants make them their favorite seats.
- In the house, avoid food or crumbs being accessible to ants. For this purpose, store foods that are likely to attract ants in glass jars or plastic jars that are sufficiently watertight.
However, in case of carpenter ants infestation, it is always better to call on a specialist in the fight against pests, who knows how to safely and effectively handle approved chemicals. You can also ask us for advice at any time. Call our professional pest eradication team anytime for free quotation.
