A Carpenter Ant infestation is a homeowners nightmare come true. The pests
can cause a lot of damage by the nesting process alone. Due to the pests
complex life cycle and nesting habits it's a huge threat to houses and
buildings. It was the perfect time to contact a Seattle Exterminator. An
assessment was done to locate the problem and a pest control work plan
drawn up to exterminate the main colony. Most of which are found outdoors.
But may also be found in walls, ceilings and below outdoor siding. Other
areas would be in wood piles by foundations, may near downspouts, gutters,
within floors and in insulation. The professional carpenter ant
the infestation expert from AMPM Exterminator was ready to get started. The
homeowner was so thankful that the Carpenter Ant infestation was going to
be taken care of. Paid close attention to the prevention tips provided by
the technician. Which resulted in a follow up visit being booked and a
recurring monthly service agreed upon.
Buildings of age or type of construction, are vulnerable to infestation and damage by carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are very difficult to control. carpenter ants winged individuals often indicate a well-established colony. Sign of carpenter ant activity is the debris they produce from tunneling in the wood. Rough wood shavings mixed with parts of dead ants from the colony indicate carpenter ant nesting activity. Sound sometimes heard as the ants go about their activity in the home’s wood.
Ants of the genus Camponotus are known as carpenter ants because they prefer to establish their colonies in galleries excavated from damp or damaged wood. Carpenter ants do not eat wood has termites do, but instead remove wood and deposit the debris outside of their nests in small piles. Carpenter ants clean their nesting sites, and their galleries are not lined with mud or moist soil as termite galleries typically are. Carpenter ant workers keep their galleries as smooth as sandpapered wood.
Big Black Ants marching and flying in the house problems of pest control:
There is one thing most people don’t think about. That is the home getting infested with a damaging ant species. But the moment came when the big Black Ants infiltrated into the home. Exactly what type of ant or bug is it. Recently, the Greater Seattle area has been plagued with Carpenter Ants. Homes and commercial business owners are great targets for this type of invasion. A Seattle homeowner saw the first big ant in the garage and then on the sundeck. But unsure of what the pests were, the owner decided to investigate by taking a picture to submit to a pest control expert. An emailed photo was sent to a professional Pest Control company for verification. All known facts about what had been observed were included in the email. The number one choice was to contact AMPM Exterminators.
Seattle homeowners fight and kill carpenter ants nightmare about to become reality:
The homeowner pulled into the garage. Happy the work day was over and looking forward to getting some rest. But something flew by like a bat out of hell. It came to a stop right at the entry door to the home. The owner was able to capture the bug with a paper towel and took a picture. As soon as the owner entered the house the wife was clearly distraught about big black bugs out on the patio and flying through the open door. One of the kids had forgotten to close the screen door. The husband took a look around inside and outdoors. The Carpenter Ants were working on the patio big time. Annoyed and stressed decision was made to notify a professional pest control company. AMPM Exterminators was sending out a technician shortly.
Identifying Carpenter Ant Control problems in commercial business buildings:
The nest may be located by careful observations of worker ants, especially between sunset and midnight during spring and summer months when carpenter ants are most active. To follow carpenter ants without startling them, use a flashlight with a red film over the lens—ants cannot see red light. You can also cover part of the flashlight with your hand so the light is more indirect and is not as bright. You can increase your chances of following workers to their nest by setting out food that is attractive to carpenter ants. Place food in areas where you find workers.
Many foods are attractive to carpenter ants, including honey or other sweet foods. During spring, carpenter ants are particularly attracted to protein sources, such as tuna packed in water. (Carpenter ants are not attracted to tuna packed in oil.) Set out small pieces of tuna for the ants to take back to their nest. It is easier to follow the ants when they are carrying food. With patience and perseverance, you can follow the ants back to their nest. If you put pieces of fish in many areas, food placed closer to the nest or trails will be found sooner.
It is not the norm to be able to identify species of bugs, much less all ant species. The Queen Carpenter ants measure about 3/4 inch are large and Workers around 1/4-1/2 inch. Winged Carpenter are the aces and are always in flight to establish new colonies. Different colored carpenter ants found in the State of Washington. Some of which are red or black. However, the most common Carpenter Ant is black with reddish legs. Carpenter ants actually do not eat wood. The pests gnaw on wood like a planer smoothing out wood. The Big Black ants can enlarge nests by tunneling into the wood. The scary thing is that the infestation may be more widespread throughout the structure than realized.
Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants – Do It Yourself Pest Control being destructive:
A Carpenter Ant infestation is something a homeowner dreads. The pests create a lot of damage to structures simply through the nesting process. The pests' complex life cycle and nesting habits are big threats to residences and commercial businesses. Mutual feelings were shared by the homeowners that the big black ants had to go. How to get rid of the Carpenter Ants was put into the hands of experience. It was the perfect time to contact a Pest Control Exterminator.
carpenter ant commercial home pest control
An assessment would be done to locate where the Carpenter Ants were nesting. A pest control work plan would be drawn up to exterminate the main colony. Main colonies are commonly found outside. But may also be found inside walls, in ceilings, below outdoor siding, in piles of wood by foundations. Also may be found near downspouts, gutters, within floors and insulation. A huge factor are specific trees found near the home. Once the professional carpenter ant infestation expert arrived from AMPM Exterminator the investigation began. The homeowner was grateful for the expedited service and carefully listened to the prevention tips given by the technician. The homeowner booked a recurring monthly service.
Professional pest control company with exterminators for Carpenter Ants, bed bugs, little black sugar ants, rat and mice control, birds, beetles, moths, flies, termites, wasps, yellowjackets and hornets and much more. Ampm Pest Exterminators takes pride in family and pet friendly effective pest control in King County areas of Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Renton, Everett, Bothell and Issaquah and many many other cities. All services are available to residential including single family residences, apartments, Commercial Businesses such as hotels, restaurants, schools and industrial establishments including warehouses and grocery stores. Attic and Crawlspace Rodent Restoration including cleaning, sanitizing and insulation removal & repair after rats, mice, squirrels, birds, bats Infestation.
Call AMPM Exterminators for answers to questions about costs and product usage. Yes, Green. It is much easier, faster and cheaper to get rid of any pest by using a professional service. Every home is different and if any repair costs are provided the cost may vary. After years of experienced inspections this client deserved customized solutions for the Big Black Carpenter Ant Infestation. Which AMPM Exterminators did with great success.
Carpenter Ants Control Removal Extermination Services signs of carpenter ants are seeing damaged wood, hearing noises coming from within the walls. Also by finding foraging ants in the kitchen at night.There are two types of carpenter ant nests: parent colonies and satellite colonies. Parent colonies are typically established outdoors in moist wood including rotting trees, tree roots, tree stumps, and logs or boards lying on or buried in the ground.A satellite nest is created by scouts looking for food from the parent nest.
Extermination a Carpenter ants infestation
Carpenter ants may nest in moist or decayed wood inside buildings. Wood decay may be caused by exposure to water leaks, condensation, or poor air circulation. Nests have been found behind bathroom tiles; around tubs, sinks, showers, and dishwashers; under roofing, in attic beams, and under subfloor insulation; and in hollow spaces such as doors, curtain rods, and wall voids. Areas around windows and where wood parts touch the foundation may be prone to infestation. Carpenter ants may also nest in foam insulation.
Parent carpenter ant colonies sometimes establish one or more satellite nests in nearby indoor or outdoor sites. Satellite nests are typically composed of workers, pupae, and mature larvae. A satellite nest with less moisture may only support workers (the eggs would dry out in lower humidity). For this reason, satellite nests can be found in relatively dry locations, such as insulation, hollow doors, sound wood, and wall voids. The workers of satellite colonies move readily between their nest and the parent colony. In late summer, winged reproductives (i.e. queens and males) may emerge from pupae transported into satellite colonies. Carpenter ants may appear in structures in late winter and early spring as they swarm from a satellite nest. Carpenter ants may move eggs into satellite nests inside a house or other structure if there is enough moisture.
Exterminators pin point Carpenter Ants Can Cause Damage
Carpenter ants have infested the home and the owner is wondering if the pests can cause damage to it? Yes indeed, the ants can cause extensive damages. Carpenter Ants are crazy for wood, but are especially in love with damp wood. So, if recently there has been any leaks or water damage in the home, it’s time to check the damaged places for signs of the ants. The Carpenter Ants could be very deep inside the wood of the walls. Therefore it may not easy to identify the problem, that being a carpenter ant
infestation.
When to look out for Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants start the mating season in early Spring. This would be the most prevalent time in which the ants will be around the home. The pests are active the most at night. Be aware and watch for the ants in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. Any place where water is readily available. Look for them in Walls and wooden doors that have small holes or gaps is a place to look for the ants. One way to find out if there are carpenter ants in hollow wood in the home is to tap the handle of a screwdriver against the surface. If there are carpenter ants behind the wood, it will make a sound that can be heard by the human ear. Be aware that the ants may be searching for food inside the home, but may live in areas laden with wood outside the home.
Carpenter Ants taking up residence in the home, observe the pests very closely. The ants are often present when termites are in the premises, as well. While investigating look for some distinguishing characteristics. Carpenter Ants have pinched waists while termites have straight waists. Carpenter ants have elbowed antennae but termites do not. Carpenter ants are quite large compared to other types of ants, and the queen Carpenter Ant grows even longer. The carpenter ants’ nests tends to have smooth wood, whereas termites’ nests consist of rough wood.
Although it’s a popular belief, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Carpenter Ants like to feast on syrup, jelly, honeydew, and other insects. The ants even eat termites. However, don’t even think about bringing termites to the ants table. Not a good move. The pests just set up the nests in wood. Even though the ants don’t eat wood, do not ignore a carpenter ant infestation.
If no action is taken, the carpenter ants will begin reproducing at a very high speed of rate. A carpenter ant colony can consist of a few thousand carpenter ants. Having an entire colony of carpenter ants can decrease the value of the home.
Carpenter Ant Infestation Prevention
It’s not advisable to put firewood up against the siding of the home. It is simply inviting the carpenter ants and other pests to come on in. Storing firewood should be as far away from the house as possible. Elevating the wood off of the ground for extra precaution is best. Make sure wood is stored on a well made firewood rack. It is excellent prevention to be aware of the upkeep of all wood areas of the home. Inside and out. There is so much taken for granted that isn’t part of our daily concerns of the home. Remember to cut down any branches or tree limbs that are touching the home. Seal all holes and crevices around the perimeter of the home. Which means the foundation and all doors of the home.
Pest control for carpenter ants
Carpenter Ants are controlled through the application of insecticides and sprays in various forms. These forms include liquid concentrates, baits, dusts, and foams. Some products for carpenter ant control that are available in stores contain boric acid, an odorless, non staining powder that kills ants and other pests. The active mineral in boric acid has herbicidal, fungicidal and insecticidal properties. In controlling carpenter ants, boric acid can be a dry powder or a liquid insect bait solution that contains a food attractant. Boric acid acts as a stomach poison for carpenter ants and other insects. The dry powder is intended to adhere to an insect’s exoskeleton. The insect would ingest the powder when it grooms its legs to clean off the powder. The powder form of boric acid is injected into crevices and cracks, where it forms a layer of dust.
When carpenter ants travel through boric acid dust, borax adheres to their legs. Carpenter ants ingest the poison while grooming, potentially leading to death. However, boric acid bait solutions must be carefully formulated, and there is no guarantee that over-the-counter solutions will kill an ant colony. If the risk of property damage is severe, consult a pest control professional before treatment. Okay, the Carpenter Ant infestation is a certainty. It’s time to call AMPM Exterminators to the rescue. A highly experienced and professional exterminator will be on route to the home or commercial business building in no time. Those pests are about to be evicted.
