Cambridge Pest Control: 3 Methods to Keep Carpenter Ants Out of the Pantry

Having carpenter ants in your home can be dangerous because the pests chew elaborate tunnels in the wooden beams that support your home and could damage the integrity of the structure. If you suspect that there are carpenter ants living in your home, it is essential to call a professional immediately for carpenter ant extermination in Cambridge. The experts at Truly Nolen Canada are ready to help, but knowing where to find the ants is an important factor in understanding when it is time to call us. One common misconception about carpenter ants is that they eat the wood they tunnel through. If you think the pests survive by eating wood, you probably don't expect them to show up in your pantry in search of food. However, carpenter ants don't actually eat wood like termites do. They deposit small piles of wood shavings outside of their tunnels and rely on crumbs, foods that aren't secured properly, and other insects for sustenance. Carpenter ants are drawn to kitchens because there is often food readily available, and keeping them out of your pantry is essential for protecting your food supply.

1. Seal Any Cracks

Because carpenter ants are tiny, they often enter homes through small cracks in the exteriors of the buildings. Some of these crevices may be too small for you to notice unless you are looking closely, so make it a habit to regularly examine the exterior of your house. Use a high-quality caulk to seal any cracks you find. If you deny carpenter ants entry to your home, there is no possibility of them taking up residence and creating an infestation.

2. Keep the Area Tidy and Organized

You probably spend a lot of time in your kitchen and keeping the area neat and tidy is important for speeding up the cooking process. However, you also need to keep your kitchen organized to avoid carpenter ants. If there are frequent crumbs or spills left in your kitchen, ants are more likely to take up residence because they have easy access to food in the area. Keeping your pantry organized not only allows you to find the food items you need quickly while cooking but also helps you recognize trails of ants after they have found food. If there are fewer places for ants to hide, you will notice them quickly and be able to deal with the issue before its spirals out of control.

3. Keep Food Items Sealed Properly

Like other species of ants, carpenter ants are constantly searching for easy sources of food. Your pantry offers them numerous options. They may be able to infiltrate unopen cardboard boxes of food, but they can't get inside the plastic protecting the food item. Open food, however, presents a much tougher problem. Ants are notorious for finding their way inside any type of open box, so it is best to store all of your open food items in airtight containers. Not only does this habit protect your food supply from carpenter ants, but it also makes your pantry look more organized.

Contact a Professional for Carpenter Ant Extermination in Cambridge

A colony of carpenter ants can quickly turn into a full-blown infestation, so if you see the pests in your home, you need to call a professional immediately for the best carpenter ant extermination near me. The expert technicians at Truly Nolen know how to get rid of carpenter ants, and we can also give you tips on how to make your home a less hospitable environment for the pests so they are less likely to return. Contact us today if you need carpenter ant extermination in Cambridge.