Ants

What are Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ants are a species of winged ants which build colonies inside wooden structures, lending them their name. Not all carpenter ants are winged, however. Carpenter ant workers are never winged and range in size from 3/8” to ½”. Carpenter ant males and queens use their wings to seek out new sites to build their colonies and typically shed them once a new site is found. Winged queens can grow to as larch as 1 inch in length.

Carpenter ants should not be confused with termites. Carpenter ants have a narrow waist and bent, or elbowed, antennae.

Do Carpenter Ants Eat Wood?

No! While carpenter ants use their mandibles to excavate wooden structures, unlike termites they do not consume the wood, instead they discarding it as coarse sawdust. Like other ants, carpenter ants are attracted to proteins and sugars. In your home, they’ll be drawn to open sources of pet food, syrup and other foods containing high levels of sugar.

How do I Prevent Carpenter Ants from Nesting in my Home?

Carpenter ants live in wood structures which contain high levels of moisture. Nesting queens will be drawn to any moisture-damaged wood in your home. Outside your home, be sure to store firewood away from buildings and structures. Consider removing old tree stumps because they are an ideal nesting ground for carpenter ants. Another good tip is to prune any tree branches that might be in contact with your home or power lines, as foraging carpenter ants can use these to easily access your roof.

Where are all these Ants coming from?

Ants are a common problem in many homes, especially during the warmer months. They like to congregate in kitchens, due to an abundance of food. Ants can find their way into your home through cracks and any small openings they can fit through. Keeping your kitchen surfaces clean, not leaving any food out, and washing dishes instead of leaving dirty dishes in the sink can go a long way to keeping ants in check. You can also spray entry points, such as doors, windows, and cracks where ants get in with an ant poison. Be sure to supervise any children or pets when using ant poison. If you’re at wits end with ants, call A-Landlords, we’ll get your home ant free in a safe, clean way.

What about other Ants?

Read more about how to identify types of ants and learn the threats they pose.