Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation in Your House
Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation in Your House
Ants are some of the pests that most commonly invade local houses in the Raleigh area. As a social insect species, ants live in colonies of many thousands and they're always on the lookout for two things: sheltered places to live and food to sustain the colony. Unfortunately, our homes provide both these things in abundance.
While ants of any kind can be a household nuisance, carpenter ants can be majorly destructive to your property. As you may have guessed from their name, carpenter ants work with wood. They don't actually eat wood like termites do, but they tunnel through it to build galleries in which to live. Over time, this tunneling can cause serious structural damage to your home in Raleigh.
5 Common Signs That You Have a Carpenter Ant Problem
Wood Shaving Piles
As carpenter ants build their tunnels through walls, floors, and other wooden structures, they are forced to excavate wood shavings to clear a path. Piles of these wood shavings may begin to accumulate on surfaces such as windowsills, baseboards, and door jambs. If you begin to discover little piles of what appears to be sawdust around wooden areas, there is a high probability that you have a carpenter ant infestation in your house in Raleigh.
2. Seeing the Ants
Although carpenter ants often stay hidden within the tunnels they build, they will also venture into the interior of your home in search of food. When you have a carpenter ant infestation in your house in Raleigh, you're likely to notice these large ants crawling around. Carpenter ants are among the largest species living in North Carolina, growing to ½ inch long. They may be all-black in color, though some of them are black and red. If you notice several carpenter ants on your property, it's a cause for concern.
3. Rustling in Walls
Carpenter ants aren't exactly loud but when it's quiet, you might be able to hear them chewing their way through your walls. If you suspect a carpenter ant presence in your Raleigh home, listen closely for faint scratching sounds within the woodwork; the more ants that are busy with their carpentry, the louder these noises will be. You can also try knocking on the wood itself. If you hear a hollow noise, this is a sign that carpenter ants have already worked their way through the wood.
4. Swarmers or Shed Wings
Every year, carpenter ants known as "swarmers" will grow wings and fly off to establish new colonies. These ant swarmers are often responsible for starting invasions of local homes. In North Carolina, carpenter ants usually swarm in March and April, so be on the lookout for large winged ants during these months. However, weather can impact swarming season, causing it to occur early or late. Even if you don't see carpenter ant swarmers arrive on your property, you may find their discarded wings lying around. When you find these shed wings, it may be time to schedule a carpenter ant inspection.
5. Decaying Wood on Property
Oftentimes, carpenter ant infestations don't begin in our houses; they start in our yards. Carpenter ants prefer to build their nests in moist, decaying wood. Logs, tree stumps, and damp firewood or brush piles are all examples of places where these ants are likely to make their homes. From here, the carpenter ants may stage an invasion of your home in Raleigh. If you have any large sources of rotting wood on your property, monitor them for signs of carpenter ant activity to protect your home from infestations.
Reliable Carpenter Ant Control Solutions in Raleigh
Carpenter ant infestations can be a serious issue for your house, but our team has the right treatments to remove these wood-destroying pests. Give Sustainable Pest Systems a call today if you want the best carpenter ant control services in the Raleigh area!