What are Carpenter Ants and How to Get Rid of Them

By  //  August 6, 2021

Carpenter ants are black ants that become active during springtime. But you should always keep an eye around for signs of potential infestation as they can multiply in huge numbers. These ants love to damage wood, and that’s how they got their name. They aren’t similar to how termites destroy wood. Instead, carpenter ants chew wood and excrete it to make pathways that they can use to travel safely.

■ Signs of carpenter ant infestation

Carpenter ants have wings. But they shed their wings after a few days. So you may notice thousands of branches on baseboards or near window sills. If that’s not enough, here are a few more signs that indicate carpenter ant infestation:

■ Wood shavings – Trails of small piles of wood or sawdust are signs of carpenter ants building nests in your house. 

■ Hollow wood – As already mentioned, carpenter ants chew and excrete wood that comes their way. This can make your furniture open. Tap on them to notice whether they are making a hollow noise or not.

■ Wet wood – Carpenter ants usually target furniture with damp timber wood as they are easier to dig through. Don’t forget to inspect the woodwork near your kitchen and bathroom, as they are the most vulnerable to these ants. 

While wet wood attracts carpenter ants the most, they can get inside your home through cracks or even the tiniest of openings. These pests usually like to set their homes up near water sources. Therefore, keep a close eye on the areas near your sink, air-conditioner unit, bathtub, and dishwasher.

Getting rid of carpenter ants

You may kill a couple of carpenter ants as they try to get to your food, but what about the thousands that are making their homes inside your house? How do you get rid of so many ants?

Here are a few things you can do:

1. Contact your nearest pest control expert – Pest control experts are familiar with the signs of carpenter ant infestation and can figure out where they are breeding. Call your local pest control Sydney expert for an inspection and let the team handle the situation. From spraying pesticides to setting traps to stop the infestation, the pest control team will use a combination of methods to keep carpenter ants away from your house.

2. Destroy the nest – If you find the nest of the carpenter ants easily, don’t hesitate to break it as soon as possible. One of the easiest ways to detect their movement is listening to a faint rustling sound from the wall. It means the ants are using that route for their journey. You can stop them on their tracks by digging a 1/8-inch hole every six inches to find the nest. Then, puff boric acid using a bulb duster. That should kill the ants right away. 

3. Make a bait – The pest control team may recommend mixing equal parts of baking soda and sugar and keeping the mixture in a shallow dish. Carpenter ants will follow the pheromone trails of sugar in the mix and try to eat it. However, baking soda won’t let them live for long.

Carpenter ants can create a stir if you don’t get rid of them quickly. Call an expert if you cannot trace their whereabouts and make your home free from these wood-destroying pests.