Carpenter ants are one of the most destructive ants that can be found in Canadian homes. The damage that these ants incur on homes has an impact on homeowners’ wallets and their well-being as ant damage can have a heavy toll on people’s mental health as well. Carpenter ant damage is often confused with termite damage since they both target wood.
Carpenter Ant Environment
Carpenter ants have a strong preference for damp environments that have a lot of moisture and for this reason, they will often flock to forest environments where they can be found in logs or tree stumps. Carpenter ants are relatively big ants that have different colours but are mostly black in colour.
Carpenter ants are typically found outdoors, making them predominantly present in the vicinity of your property. In the event that these ants make their way indoors, they tend to seek out areas with elevated moisture levels and inadequate ventilation.
Carpenter ants exhibit opportunistic feeding behaviour, actively searching for suitable sources of water and food. Upon discovering an entry point that leads to a more favourable environment with consistent access to nourishment, they exploit the various openings scattered throughout the property, including gaps, holes, and vents such as wall vents and air conditioners.
So how do you get rid of carpenter ants?
Carpenter ants are extremely difficult ants to get rid of and will more than likely need professional extermination done to get rid of them completely. But here are things to make sure they stay away from the kitchen and other places where these ants often frequent.
Carpenter Ants: Opportunistic Feeders
As explained before, carpenter ants are opportunistic feeders and will do anything to get to a reliable food source as such, carpenter ants will flock to the kitchen and forage for food and bring it even back to their nest. Carpenter ant nests can be identified by looking for a whole and these can be usually found in places such as the basement where they build intricate galleries and chambers and will keep expanding that damaging the structural integrity of the property in the long run.
How to Deal with Carpenter Ants
The best way to keep the infestation in control is to remove water and food sources. This means that you will need to regularly clean flat surfaces including countertops and flooring. As for food. Food will need to be stored in air-tight containers and cupboards will need to be periodically emptied to clean out spills that these ants are attracted to.
Professionals are licensed and insured individuals that have access to high-quality tools and equipment paired with commercial-grade. Call the professionals from Pest Control Barrie.