Is It Carpenter Ants?
Identifying a carpenter ant infestation is easy, but finding the nest can be difficult. This wood pest prefers moist wood, and their nests are usually located outside. They can also be found in buildings. If they enter your home, it is likely that they are foraging for food inside.
Carpenter ants are social insects. They build nests in dead and living trees. Carpenter ants have three distinct waist segments. The ants are black or brown in color and are about half an inch long. They have four wings. The front wing is longer than the hind wing. The wings are pointed.
Carpenter ants are nocturnal. They are active in the late evening and night. They can enter your home through a pipe collar, plumbing, or electrical hardware. They also travel along wires, pipes, and foundation cracks.
Carpenter ants are often seen near electrical appliances, like dishwashers. They also like to live near leaky pipes and foundation cracks. Their nests are usually found in rotting or moist wood.
Carpenter ants can be found in wood with moisture levels above 15%. Carpenter ant colonies can grow large and cause significant damage. If you notice a large infestation, you should consider a pest control service. The treatment will depend on the number of nests that are present and the length of the infestation.
Carpenter ants swarm when they are ready to mate. They are winged males that release pheromones to entice a female to leave their nest.