Here come the ants……

Carpenter ants are one of the most common structural pests found in and around the home.  They are the largest type of ant that invade the home….they can range from 1/4 to 3/4 inches in length. They have a constricted waist, six legs and bent antennae. They can be black, reddish-black or brownish black in colour.

Carpenter ants are attracted to wood that is damp and has been exposed to moisture; they tunnel and make nests in damaged and rotted wood.  When carpenter ants invade wood, the worker ant finds an entry route by gnawing a clean tunnel parallel to the grain, wherever a crack or crevice exists.  They will then chew the wood and discard it outside of the tunnel.  This discarded wood (which kinda looks like sawdust) is a great indicator that carpenter ants have made a tunnel and are nesting in the wood.

Although these ants live in these tunnels, they must leave their ‘home’ to search for food.  They usually snack on aphid honeydew, other insects (dead or alive), plant juices, and food found around the home (ie fats, sugar and other sweets).

They are crafty little bugs and April is when they usually start to emerge in the home.  Now would be a good time to inspect the wooden areas of your home to see if your wood is an ideal nesting place for the dreaded carpenter ants.

If you do find ants in your home, contact Action Pest Control immediately and we’ll get right to work!