While ants typically don’t pose a physical threat to humans, they are a nuisance and can destroy your food supply and even damage the structure of your Guelph home. This can become a reality if appropriate carpenter ant treatment in Guelph is not properly administered. Carpenter ants, in particular, are destructive to any wooden structure on your property, including outdoor decks. Here are four common reasons ants are attracted to decks and what you can do to deter them.

1. The Wood Is Wet

Any type of wet wood attracts carpenter ants. Rather than eating the material like termites, carpenter ants simply chew through wood to create tunnels and discard the shavings in small piles known as frass. Wet wood is softer and easier to chew, so it makes a prime environment for carpenter ants. You can’t always guard against wet wood, but make sure you inspect your deck thoroughly after a rainstorm to be sure that carpenter ants haven’t started burrowing into the wood.

2. The Colony Lives Nearby

Carpenter ants build nests in wooden structures. Homes and outdoor sheds often make decent environments, but old trees are also great spots for nests. As the colony grows, winged ants, known as swarmers, fly off to establish satellite colonies. The females mate and become queens of the new colonies, producing a new generation of worker ants within a few weeks. For this reason, you’ll likely develop a second or even third colony on your property if you have one nearby.

Ants typically stay a short distance from their nests when searching for food, so if you see a single ant, chances are good that there is an entire colony nearby. Working with a reputable professional to treat any visible anthills can often keep pests away.

3. The Deck Is Close to a Food Source

Once ants find an easy food source, they are unlikely to leave. If your deck is right outside your kitchen, it makes an ideal nesting location for ants. They are in a convenient place to access food in your kitchen but in a spot that has less human interaction. You can often eliminate this issue by ensuring all of the food in your house is properly sealed in unopen boxes or airtight containers.

4. There Is Food On the Deck

If you spend a lot of time on your deck, you probably leave food out for you and your guests to snack. This may be a convenient habit for you, but it’s also a great way to attract ants. If a scout ant finds your buffet of food, it will lead others to the area, and once they find a convenient source of food, they will likely keep returning to the same spot and make a nest nearby. Keeping all food items tightly secured until you are ready to eat them is a good idea.

Call a Professional for Help With Carpenter Ant Pest Control

Making your home a less hospitable environment for carpenter ants is a good way to deter pests. Securely your food tightly and clean up all crumbs and spills. You should also repair any damaged wood immediately to keep carpenter ants from taking up residence.

When your best efforts to prevent pests fail, it’s time to call a professional. Truly Nolen Canada has a team of experts who know how to get rid of carpenter ants and can take measures to keep the colony from returning.

When you need carpenter ant treatment in Guelph, Truly Nolen Canada is here to help with a team of dedicated technicians. We know what it takes to identify and remove a colony of carpenter ants, so contact us today when you need carpenter ant control near me.