Most ant species can cause a headache when they’re in the home, but outside of that, they’re really harmless. Carpenter ants on the other hand will actually cause damage to the home, and they have to be removed as soon as you spot them. However, the best cure is always prevention, and in this article, we’re going to go over the methods that you can use to prevent carpenter ant infestations.
Why carpenter ants enter the home
Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood, they just build their colony inside it. This means that they can enter the home just because they like the wood that they have found. However, having some food sources nearby also helps. Their diet mainly consists of sugars and protein, so if you have some soda spills or fruit out in the open, the carpenter ants will have something to eat. Luckily though, the fact that they have to leave the colony is a big disadvantage for them. Termites are so destructive because they often go undetected for months and even years. Carpenter ants are easier to detect when they’re out foraging for food, because they are quite larger than other ants.
Prevention
Preventing an infestation is always better than having to treat it, but when dealing with carpenter ants, prevention is a bit more difficult than when dealing with other pests. Still, there are some measures that you can take which will decrease the odds of an infestation. These measures are:
- Repair or replace damp wood inside the home and in your yard.
- Seal all the cracks and crevices in the exterior of your home.
- Use weather stripping on your windows and doors.
- Repair any leaky hoses or faucets as soon as possible.
- Move firewood away from the home and keep it elevated above the ground.
- Keep your floors crumb- and spill-free.
- Do not leave uncovered food out.
- Store all your dry foods and pet food in containers that have tight-fitting lids.
These measures will also protect you from most other pests, since pests enter the home for similar reasons and through similar means.
Control
If you already have an infestation, the best way to treat it is with the help of a pro. When dealing with carpenter ants, you want to make sure that you kill the queen so that the whole colony dies out. Contact us today if you have any questions about carpenter ants or if you have a carpenter ant infestation.
