Carpenter ants are among the most troublesome insect pests because of the extensive property damage they can cause. If you have or suspect a carpenter ant infestation, this is cause for concern but not alarm. The ants do not pose an immediate threat to you and your family, but they shouldn’t be handled directly. To prevent structural damage and other issues with carpenter ants, you should call for a professional for carpenter ant removal right away.

1. What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

There are many species of ants that may get into your home, and while they all look very similar, carpenter ants are usually pretty easy to recognize. For one thing, carpenter ants are one of the largest ant species in North America, measuring up to half an inch in length. Most carpenter ants are black but may be brown, red, yellow, or orange. Some carpenter ants are red and black. Carpenter ants have large jaws that are visible to the naked eye.

2. What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

Carpenter ants tunnel through wood to build nests but they do not eat it, nor do they feed on blood like mosquitos. Instead, carpenter ants eat sweet or fatty liquids, such as plant nectar, honey, or grease. Carpenter ants also feed on the carcasses of other insects that they come across or sometimes live insects.

3. Do Carpenter Ants Bite or Sting?

Carpenter ants do not have stingers, and they do not often bite humans. When they do bite, it is usually in self-defence or because they think the nest is threatened. You are very unlikely to be bitten if you leave the ants alone and do not attempt to handle them.

While the bite of a carpenter ant causes no long-term ill effects, it can still be unpleasant in the short term. The bite typically feels like a very strong pinch. The ant’s mandibles are strong enough to break the skin, so the bite may bleed. When carpenter ants bite, they may release a fluid called formic acid into the wound. This material is non-toxic, but it can irritate the wound and cause a burning sensation. Some people are allergic to formic acid, and the reaction may cause the wound to swell and remain painful.

4. How Do You Know If You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation?

One of the clearest signs of an infestation is if you see the ants themselves. Pay particular attention to the presence of any winged carpenter ants. These are called “swarmers,” and their job is to mate with one another and then fly off to establish new colonies. The presence of swarmers is bad news because it means the colony is well established. However, you do not always see carpenter ants because they build their nests within the walls. You may hear rustling noises as they scrabble around in there.

When ants chew up the wood, they push it out of the tunnels through the holes they have made. The remains of the wood are called frass. You may find little piles of frass, which resembles sawdust, around your home if you have a carpenter ant infestation.

5. How Can You Prevent an Infestation?

Carpenter ants have an affinity for wood and are good at climbing. If you have any trees on your property, you should keep them trimmed back so they do not touch the roof as carpenter ants can get through that way. However, carpenter ants prefer wood that is damaged or decayed, often due to moisture. The infestation usually starts on the exterior of the home on a deck or porch, then the ants move inside. Regular outdoor maintenance can help prevent carpenter ant infestations.

Because carpenter ants can become aggressive in response to a perceived threat to their nest, it is best to leave the removal up to the professionals. Call Truly Nolen for pest control in Vaughan about carpenter ants.