Carpenter Ants in Burlington Ontario

by Shell
June 25, 2019
Uncategorized

Because of their habit of nesting in houses, carpenter ants are a concern to homeowners.  One nest can cause extensive damage before you even realize you have a problem. Therefore, spotting the signs early and receiving a proper treatment from a professional pest control technician can help to minimize the damage.

Carpenter Ant Frass

Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants do not eat wood, but nest in wood. When a major infestation sets in you may see little piles of what looks like sawdust coming from wood items and structures. This sawdust is called frass and is a good indication you are dealing with carpenter ants.  Frass is created when carpenter ants use their mandibles to excavate tunnels in wood to nest in.  The most common places to spot frass are near windows, sky lights, doors, baseboards, and in corners of rooms.  If you notice swarmers ( flying reproductive ants ) the carpenter ants have most likely established a colony in your home.

Food Supply

Carpenter ants primarily feed on insect honey dew, plant and fruit juices, insects and anthropods. Inside, they also feed on sweets, eggs, meats and grease. The workers can wander up to 300 feet from the nest while foraging for food.

To deny ants shelter, remove questionable fixtures and seal cracks in walls, windows and foundations immediately and keep trees trimmed away from windows and walls.

Dealing with Carpenter Ants

There are several measures you can take to keep carpenter ants from invading your home.

  • Remove any firewood or construction materials from around your home.
  • Cut branches and bushes back from your home
  • Address any water issues around your home – wood rot is particularly attractive to ants
  • Do a detailed inspection of your home and foundation and seal any gaps and cracks that you find

If carpenter ants are already inside your home, professional pest control is always the best option. At Burlington Pest Control, our goal is to help you quickly and conveniently and in the most cost effective way.  We provide expert solutions to help our customers keep their homes and businesses ant free.

Give us a call today or visit us online at burlingtonpestcontrol.ca