Carpenter Ants

For many, ant infestations are an irritating nuisance and source of frustration. Visual inspection is the most common method of finding ant infestations.

Carpenter ants are some of the largest ants found in New England. Normally workers are black or reddish in color and range in size from 3/8 to 1/2 inch. Carpenter ants are a common wood destroying insect that can infest and damage your home or business. Carpenter ants nest in wood and the tunnels they create can cause structural damage to buildings they invade. Unlike subterranean termites, however, they do not consume wood for food: these tunnels, called galleries, are merely passageways.

To construct their galleries, carpenter ants take bits of wood and expel them outside the nest. This discharge, called frass, will build up into sawdust-looking piles and may be the first visible sign that a carpenter ant nest is present. If the nest is allowed to grow, the galleries can become quite large possibly damaging the structure of your home.

Carpenter ants are attracted to foods high in sugar content and must have water in their diet to survive. They prefer to nest in water-damaged wood because it is easier to excavate than undamaged wood. High levels of moisture and easy access to a food source can make a location highly attractive for carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants are controlled with exterior perimeter treatments, interior bait applications, direct nest treatments, and sanitation efforts like eliminating the sources of food & water.