This is a time of year when carpenter ants are very active. While they're a threat year-round, warmer weather provides them with the energy to cause more damage. They’re breeding and infesting homes as you read this, which brings me to some questions you may have. What leads carpenter ants to infest homes in the Quad Cities? And what are they looking for?
Carpenter ants are looking for a place to nest that has a readily available food source. They nest inside wooden structures. Outside, this takes place in damp logs, fallen trees, etc. Inside, this will take place in damaged or damp wooden structures. However, they have been known to infest dry, undamaged wood. They don’t eat the wood, so they need a food source nearby to keep the colony fed. Like many other ants, they’ll feed on a variety of sweet foods and proteins. Carpenter ants will eat many items that are found in our kitchens.
Factors that Can Lead to a Carpenter Ant Infestation
Wherever there is moisture or damp wood, there’s a risk for carpenter ants. Leaks can cause water to build up and damage wood. Even if the leak is fixed, the damaged wood is still a problem and should be replaced. Moisture inside a home is a big attractant. Dehumidifiers can help with this problem. Wooden debris in the yard can also attract carpenter ants. Fallen trees, stumps, and other similar wooden structures are common places for these ants to live. Removing them will help eliminate the potential of ants moving inside the home.
Where Damage Occurs inside Homes in the Quad Cities
When carpenter ants invade wooden structures, their activity remains on the inside and typically cannot be observed at all from the outside. This is why their damage gets overlooked by many homeowners. The structure appears the same on the outside, but within, carpenter ants will form a series of tunnels to travel about. This can happen throughout any wooden structure of a home; walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, etc. Sometimes the damage can become so severe that you notice crumbling from the outside. Other times, a structure must be broken apart to see the activity within and how severe the damage is.
Signs of Carpenter Ants
These ants get away with damage that’s very similar to termite damage. Since it's hard to observe these ants, it’s important to pay attention to the small signs that can give them away. Seeing ants in the kitchen or other food areas could potentially mean an infestation of carpenter ants. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the types of ants. Ants with wings can also be a telltale sign of an infestation. Carpenter ants will leave behind frass, or sawdust, as they tunnel through wooden structures. If you hear a hollow sound as you tap on wood, this can also give away the presence of carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants can pose a serious threat to your home and the stability of its structure. If you have any concerns that you may have these ants tunneling in your Davenport home or throughout the Quid City area's, give Quik-Kill a call. We will perform a detailed inspection and ensure that any ants found are removed. Don’t let carpenter ants invade this summer. Reach out to Quik-Kill today.