Carpenter ants are pests that make tunnels in wood to make their nests. Over time, they can cause extensive damage, so it is important to call for carpenter ant pest control in Cambridge as soon as possible upon discovering signs of an infestation. Here are some ways that you can recognize the signs of an infestation, and why you need residential pest control to deal with it.

Frass and Holes in the Wood

One of the first signs of a carpenter ant infestation is often little piles of what looks like sawdust showing up around your home for no discernible reason. The little wood shavings are called frass, and they are what is left behind as carpenter ants chew through wood.

Despite what many people think, and unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Instead, they use their strong mandibles to chew the wood up to make holes and passages. As they tunnel through the wood, they push the remaining particles out of the initial hole so it doesn’t get in the way. The wood residue piles up under the hole in the form of frass.

Frass by itself is a strong indication of a carpenter ant infestation. If you look directly above the spot where it is collecting on the ground, you may even be able to see the hole where the carpenter ant queen originally started digging into the wood.

Large Ants Around the House

Carpenter ants are one of the largest ant species. They can be twice as long as the average ant size. There are few other ants on the North American continent that rival the carpenter ant in size, so if you see unusually large ants around your house, chances are pretty good that they are carpenter ants.

In addition to its size, you can also recognize a carpenter ant by colour. Carpenter ants are usually black, but they can also be red. Some carpenter ants are both red and black. The thorax, or middle segment, may appear red, but then the color gradually darkens until the head and abdomen are black.

Sighting one carpenter ant in your home might not be significant; it is possible that it’s just passing through. However, if you keep seeing them around your home, it is a strong indication of an infestation.

Swarms of Winged Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants usually travel alone. You are unlikely to see them in swarms unless they are winged carpenter ants. The purpose of these swarmers is to mate with one another and then fly off to find new colonies. If you find a swarm of winged carpenter ants on your property, it suggests that the colony is well-established and has been for several years. In this case, it is imperative that you call residential pest control as soon as possible. There is probably already damage to your home from carpenter ants, and you need to deal with the infestation before it becomes any worse.

Why You Need Professional Carpenter Ant Pest Control in Cambridge

You may have decorative woodwork around your home that you take pride in. Carpenter ants don’t care; they may ruin their natural beauty. They may also get into the framework of your home, where they can damage its structure. It may be possible to repair the damage, but it can cost a lot of money.

When a carpenter ant colony gets too large, the ants can start forming satellite colonies nearby. Even if you are able to get rid of one colony on your own, there may be others that you don’t know about. Truly Nolen technicians can assess your property, confirm that you have carpenter ants, and locate the main colony as well as any satellite colonies. Find out more about the services we offer in Cambridge.