In Dallas, the warm weather is plentiful which means pests are also in full swing. This is especially true for ants.
At Buzzkill Pest Control we know ants can reign havoc during the spring and summer months, and to many people, an ant is just an ant. However, there are several different types of ants that live in the DFW area. Some can just be harmless and annoying, but there are other types of ants that can be downright damaging and these ants should be exterminated.
One of those is the carpenter ant. As a homeowner, a carpenter ant could look innocent, however, these pests can actually cause extensive damage to your home and compromise its structure. That is why it is very important that you can recognize carpenter ants when you see them and know the tell-tale signs that they are in your home.
What Are Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are categorized as large black ants, however, they can also come in various shades of red. They typically grow in length up to one inch and may have wings. Since some do, and some don’t, so it is hard to differentiate a carpenter ant from a regular garden ant.
Another note about carpenter ants is that they have powerful jaws however, they do not usually bite humans. Instead, they chew and live in wood which is why spotting these pests near your home is a bad, bad sign.
What Are The Signs That You Have Carpenter Ants?
Determining whether you have carpenter ants in or around your home is a lot harder if you don’t know the signs. To help, we’ve put together a list of ways to tell if you have a carpenter ant infestation.
- If you notice sawdust trails in the wood.
- If you knock on the wood and it sounds hollow.
- If you see shed wings laying around near your windows sis, baseboards, and/ or vents.
- If you put your ear up to the wood and can hear a rustling sound within it.
- If you can easily penetrate the wood with a knife.
- If you spot wide and smooth irregularities in the wood but the area is free of wood chips or debris.
3 Ways to Prevent Carpenter Ants from Calling Your Home ‘Home’
Fortunately, there are some ways to prevent carpenter ants from calling your home their home.
- Since wood is the main source of residence for carpenter ants, it is best that you avoid putting firewood against the side of your home. In fact, keep firewood as far away from the house as possible and also make sure it is elevated off the ground to keep carpenter ants or any other pests and rodents away.
- Carpenter ants also love to live in trees, especially dead ones. It is a good idea to cut down or trim away any tree limbs that touch the exterior of your home.
- Holes and crevices in the foundation, windows or doors of your home provide carpenter ants easy access to your home’s structure, so be sure to seal them up when spotted.
If you are doing any of these things, you are practically inviting these pests in for a meal.
Get Carpenter Ants out of Your Home with Buzzkill Pest Control
Are you dealing with carpenter ants in your residence? Contact us today to find out how we can get rid of these pests and help you take back your home.
Also, check out our pest control tips.