How Damaging Carpenter Ants Can Be in Allen?

Ants Can Be in Allen
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A lot of people mistake carpenter ants for termites because of their connection with wood damage. However, both species have different behaviors and effects on homes. In Allen, TX, homeowners ask about the type of damage that carpenter ants cause. Although these ants can create issues, they don’t eat wood as termites do. Rather, carpenter cants are drawn to water-damaged wood, which makes some areas of your house such as the kitchen more prone to infestation. If you believe carpenter ants have infiltrated your home, visit romneypestcontrol.com to hire the pest control services you need to eliminate those pests. Pest control experts can completely eliminate an active infestation and prevent it from happening again. 

What to Know About Carpenter Ants

In Allen, carpenter ants are among the biggest species of ants. They got their name from their tendency to excavate wood to create their nests. These ants funnel through the wood to make galleries to live and breed. Although this activity does not destroy the wood, it can weaken structures eventually, especially if the wood is no longer sturdy. 

Typically, carpenter ants are black or reddish-black. They can grow up to half an inch long. Their queen is bigger and takes the reproduction role in the colony. Finding these species in or around the house can indicate a developing infestation, especially when found near damp and water-damaged wood. 

As carpenter ants carve out wood to make nesting galleries, they discard the wood into piles of sawdust that contain ant body parts and dead insects. These ants nest in moisture-softened wood. That is why they can be found in places impacted by water leaks, plumbing problems, and roof damage. Carpenter cants can nest in decks, attics, tree cavities, and fences. 

How to Know Your Home is Infested with Carpenter Ants

By detecting carpenter ant activity early, you can prevent further damage to your property. The signs below indicate the presence of these ants in your house:

  • Nests. Carpenter ants build debris piles and sawdust-like debris where they can easily access their nests. 
  • Live ants. If you find big black, reddish, or brown ants marching in and out of your house, especially near wood damaged by water, carpenter ants may have invaded your property. Sometimes, they can be heard making rustling sounds that come from the attics, within walls, or within hollow doors. These sounds are made as they crawl through the tunnels. 
  • Swarming. Swarming carpenter ants have wings and may emerge from their nests during mating season. This activity signals the presence of a mature colony nearby. They can swarm to indoor and outdoor lights. 

Wood Damage Caused by Carpenter Ants

Although carpenter ants do not eat wood, the way they make their nests can result in serious property damage. These ants hollow out wood areas to make nests, weakening the structure in the long run. This can be especially problematic if the wood is already water-damaged, as the ants may target such vulnerable areas. Eventually, the excavation can worsen the damage, resulting in expensive repairs for homeowners. 

Carpenter Ant Damage Versus Termite Damage

Termites eat the cellulose in wood. That is why they can cause serious and widespread property destruction. Over time, such eating behavior can result in severe structural problems. Meanwhile, carpenter ants don’t eat wood; however, they create tunnels for nesting. This activity will weaken structures. Whether your home is infested with carpenter ants or termites, prompt action should be taken against these invaders to prevent further damage. 

Carpenter ant infestations can be challenging to deal with because these ants nest in hidden areas, making elimination difficult without professional help. Pest control experts are aware of these challenges and can handle the infestation effectively with reliable methods and solutions. 

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