Finding a trail of ants in your home can certainly be a nuisance and difficult to eradicate. But one type of ant that goes above and beyond just being a bother is the carpenter ant. These wood burrowing insects can cause real damage to your home’s structure. Being able to identify a carpenter quickly is crucial to preventing the destruction being done to your home. 3 signs that you have a carpenter ant infestation are the physical appearance of the ants, finding shed wings on outdoor window sills, and finding sawdust under certain places in the house. Knowing what to look for will help you identify the carpenter ants and know when to call in a professional to eliminate the ants from your home.
Large, black, or black and red ants
One good thing about carpenter ants is that they are much larger than your average ant. The size alone will cause you to take note if you see a trail of busy, bustling ants marching across your kitchen floor. Carpenter ants are often solid black or brown. Some carpenter ants can have red heads and thorax, while their abdomens are black. The ants should be easily seen in the home if they are present. But do not ignore them for being a typical ant who is just after a drop of honey. Carpenter ants can do extensive damage to your home.
Shed wings near windows
Like termites, swarmer carpenter ants have wings and if they have decided to enter your home, you will find their discarded wings on or around outdoor window sills. This may not be a sign you go looking for because the wings will only be around for a short period of time. But if you are outside and you happen upon a pile of insect wings, investigate further because if it turns out to not be carpenter ants, it is likely to be a termite infestation.
Piles of wood under baseboards, window sills, and door jams
Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood, but instead, they burrow down into the wood to create nests. This burrowing will eventually weaken the structure of your home, causing extensive and costly damage. As the ants burrow into the wood, they kick out the wood shavings they have just created. If you notice sawdust piles under wooden furniture, under baseboards, window sills, or near door jams, take note that you may have a carpenter ant infestation.
Differences between ants and termites
Carpenter ants and termites can have overlapping signs such as the shed wings and piles of sawdust in the home. Termites leave piles of excrement behind but because they eat wood, the droppings resemble wood fibers. To distinguish between termites and carpenter ants, look at their waists, wings, and antennae.
- Ants have a pinched waist while termites bodies go straight back from their heads
- Ant wings are in two sets with the top set longer than the bottom. Termites also have two sets of wings but both sets are similar in size.
- Ants have bent or elbowed antennae while termites’ antennae are straight.
If you suspect you have carpenter ants in your home in Northern New Jersey, do not hesitate to give Abarb Pest Services a call today.
