What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

Carpenter ants are easily distinguished from other common species of ants due to their relatively large size. Adult carpenter ant workers can grow to about ½ of an inch in length, while the queens can reach a whopping 1 inch in length. These ants are typically black, red, or a combination of black and red. Carpenter ants have enormous and strong mandibles that they use to tunnel through the wood that they have invaded.

a carpenter ant crawling on wood

When Are Carpenter Ants Most Active?

In colder parts of the country, carpenter ants living outdoors become dormant during the winter season, emerging again and becoming active when the weather warms up in the spring. However, carpenter ants living in temperature-controlled buildings can remain active year-round, despite the chilly weather outside. However, the warm weather in Florida allows these ants to stay active throughout the entire year, whether they're living inside or out. Carpenter ants are nocturnal and therefore are most active day to day during the overnight hours.

Why Do I Have A Carpenter Ant Problem?

Carpenter ants are initially attracted to properties that have damp or rotting wood on them for them to create their nests in; fallen trees or limbs and tree stumps are particularly attractive to invading carpenter ants. Once on your property, carpenter ants will begin foraging for food sources, often making their way inside homes in the process. Once inside, they will be attracted to parts of your home, specifically structural wood that has been damaged by water or is rotting. They will then tunnel through the wood, not feeding on it like termites but rather excavating it to create nesting galleries to establish a satellite colony near their new found food sources.

Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?

Carpenter ants are not considered to be a danger to people. However, they are considered a danger to the structures of homes and other facilities they have decided to invade. Out in nature, carpenter ants are beneficial insects that help break down and get rid of decaying wood, but when they set their sights on your home, they turn from helpful to harmful! The structural damages that carpenter ants cause inside homes can become quite extensive over time and become rather expensive to repair.

How Do I Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants?

Most do-it-yourself carpenter ant control methods will not work to eliminate a carpenter infestation successfully. When you think you've finally got them all, they return with a vengeance. With professional carpenter ant control from Lindsey Pest Services, we guarantee that your carpenter ant infestation will be eliminated entirely and that they won't return to damage your home's structural wood in the future. Our expert pest control technicians will inspect your property to find where they are infesting, where the ants are active, and where their nests are located. Once we've evaluated the carpenter ant problem, we'll determine the most efficient method of control. Contact us at Lindsey Pest Services today to learn more about ridding your property of damaging carpenter ants!

 
 

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