Carpenter ants are more than just a nuisance—they can cause serious damage to your home’s wooden structures. Contrary to popular belief, these ants don’t eat wood; they chew through it to build nests and tunnels, making their colonies harder to detect until significant damage is done. Here’s how to spot, prevent, and manage carpenter ant infestations.
Where Carpenter Ants Are Found
Carpenter ants typically nest in damp, decaying wood, making wooded areas the perfect environment for them. Their colonies often start in rotting stumps or fallen trees, forming a “parent colony.” From there, worker ants may venture out to create satellite colonies, sometimes moving into homes and outdoor wooden structures like decks or sheds.
Spring is prime time for carpenter ants, as the combination of warming temperatures and rainy weather creates the damp wood conditions they love. If you spot ants indoors during late winter or early spring, they may have already established a colony inside your home.
Common Hiding Spots in the Home
Once indoors, carpenter ants are usually found in areas where moisture accumulates. These include:
Tips to Keep Carpenter Ants Out
By staying proactive and addressing moisture issues early, you can protect your home from carpenter ants. Regular inspections, repairs, and yard maintenance go a long way in keeping these destructive pests out of your living space.
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You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
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Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
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You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
