Ants are common pests in Carthage. You see them crawling around on your driveway and making little ant hills along the edges of the sidewalk. For the most part, it’s likely that you don’t give them much thought. When ants stay outside, most species are not an issue. However, when you start finding ants inside your house, you need to be a bit more aware of the problems they cause. Not every type of ant is a major concern, but some can cause problems for your home and family. If carpenter ants get into your house, you’ll want to take fast action. Carpenter ant control in Carthage from Gecko Pest Control will remove carpenter ants that try to get into your Carthage home.
Identifying Carpenter Ants: Physical Characteristics And Behaviors
When it comes to figuring out what species of ants are in your house, it can seem like a difficult task. Many ant species are similar in size and color, so figuring out which type has gotten into your house is not always easy. However, when it comes to carpenter ants, the job is not quite as tough.
Carpenter ants are much bigger than most other ants. While most ants top out at 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch, carpenter ants in Carthage are usually over half an inch in length. Their size alone makes them easy to identify. If you see carpenter ants with wings on your Carthage property, you can be certain that a carpenter ant infestation is present. Winged carpenter ants are the reproductive members of a colony, and their presence means that there is already a well-established nest nearby, with more to come.
Carpenter Ant Problems: Health Concerns And Structural Damage
When you think of a carpenter, you think of someone who builds things with wood. Although carpenter ants got their name because of their relationship with wood, it would be difficult to make the case that they are builders. Instead, when they get into your home, they will infest wooden elements of your home and proceed to destroy those elements. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they do chew through it as they dig tunnels and create nesting areas.
Over time, the damage that carpenter ants cause can become extensive, causing structural damage that can make your home an unsafe place for your family to live. Because they work inside of wood, it’s not always easy to identify carpenter ant damage. One thing to look for is carpenter ant frass in your home. As they work, carpenter ants will push waste products, known as frass, out of small holes in the wood where they live. If you notice tiny piles of a substance that looks like sawdust near exposed wood, it could be a sign of a carpenter ant infestation.
Carpenter Ant Prevention: How To Remove Attracting Factors
To avoid carpenter ant damage to your home, you’ll want to make sure you don’t allow conditions around your house that might attract carpenter ants. Keep carpenter ants out with the following tips:
- Fix moisture issues around your house by repairing leaking fixtures and pipes and decreasing humidity where needed.
- Replace water-damaged wood.
- Seal entry points into your house, including cracks, holes, gaps, and crevices.
- Store firewood a safe distance away from your house.
- Cut back tree branches and other foliage so they don’t touch the sides or roof of your house.
By putting these preventative measures into place, you can help prevent a carpenter ant infestation.
Professional Assistance: Vital To Total Carpenter Ant Control
If already present in your house, you need to get rid of carpenter ants as quickly as possible to prevent further property damage. The best way to do this is to get professional assistance from Gecko Pest Control. Because carpenter ants remain out of sight the majority of the time, it’s difficult to fully eliminate an infestation without the knowledge, equipment, and products available to professional pest control technicians.
Carpenter ants can be dangerous to the safety of your home. With Gecko Pest Control at your service, you won’t have to worry about these pests damaging your home. Contact us today for home pest control services in Carthage.