Carpenter ants, which are commonly seen in and near dwellings are typically the wingless, non-productive worker adults. Carpenter ants live in large groups or colonies consisting of hundreds of worker ants, a few reproductive males and female as well as one queen.
At first the colony is small, however, in later years the population can increase to 2000-3000 ants.
It’s easy to see how quickly a problem can occur, especially if left unattended.
Once you see a carpenter ant you need to investigate your home. Generally speaking, if you have ants in your home in the winter, there’s a good chance that nest is located somewhere in your home (or business).
The key to controlling a carpenter ant problem is to find the nest which would prevent them from having access to a food supply. Carpenter ants tend to use a definite trail and they can be followed as they return to the nest after searching for food. A pile of ‘sawdust’ near wooden structures such as windows, doors and steps can also indicate the entrance to a carpenter ant nest.
Now it may not be necessary to remove the nests of ants living in the wooded areas nearby who are just coming over for a snack, but you should reduce the amount of older possibly rotting wood that is a breeding ground for these little critters.
