It's common to find carpenter ants in our Downingtown service area. These pests are known to destroy the wooden structures of homes where they prefer to build their colonies. If left untreated, a carpenter ant infestation could result in costly home repairs and renovations.
Although many home remedies claim to get rid of carpenter ants, the only way to completely eradicate them is through an exterminator. Read on to discover why carpenter ants are so dangerous and why homeowners trust Budget Exterminating Inc for high-quality pest control in Downingtown.
What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
Carpenter ants are either black or red in color, sometimes a combination of both. They range from 1/2 to 5/8" in length. Like other ant species, these pests have a segmented body that consists of a head, thorax, and abdomen. Carpenter ants have six legs and two antennae.
Colonies of carpenter ants can house between 10,000 and 20,000 insects. Most of the colony consists of workers, and there is one queen. Swarmer carpenter ants have wings and typically appear in the springtime in the eastern parts of the country. In the west, swarmers can appear as early as February. If you find red or black carpenter ants in your home, you may have an infestation.
How To Tell If Carpenter Ants Are In Your Home
There are several ways to tell if you have carpenter ants in your home. Spotting the insects crawling about indoors is usually the first thing homeowners notice. Here are some other signs that these pests have invaded your house:
- Noticing small piles of wood shavings or carpenter ant frass in your home. Frass is created when the ants chew through wood to build their tunnels.
- Seeing wings from swarmer ants on your floor or window sills.
- Spotting winged ants lingering around crevasses or cracks in your walls and ceilings.
- Hearing rustling sounds coming from hollow doors or inside the walls.
In addition to these telltale signs, finding carpenter ants in trees in the yard also indicates a colony on your property. To avoid carpenter ant damage to your home, contact an experienced exterminator like Budget Exterminating Inc.
How Much Damage Can Carpenter Ants Do To Your Home?
Perforating moist or moldy wood, carpenter ants invade and build their tunnels within walls, doors, and windows. They can gain access to your home through cracks around plumbing and electrical lines with an outdoor access point, so it's important to keep those areas tightly sealed. Although they don't consume wood as a food source, carpenter ants create what are known as galleries by excavating beneath the surface. These galleries are where the ants nest and can grow to be massive. If the infestation is severe enough, they can also move from moist areas to dry, viable wood. If left undetected, carpenter ants weaken the wood within your home, potentially causing areas to collapse.
Carpenter ants in Downingtown homes cause major structural damage. Because it happens slowly over time, it's essential to catch these pests and eliminate them before they have time to ruin your wooden framing and interior.
How To Deter Carpenter Ants In Downingtown
At the first signs of red or black carpenter ants in your home, rely on Budget Exterminating Inc for safe and effective pest control. Our comprehensive extermination plans include a full inspection and a custom treatment solution to get rid of carpenter ants for good. You can rest easy knowing that your pest problem is solved, allowing you to avoid carpenter ant damage to your home for years to come. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment or to talk to us about all your commercial pest control needs.