Creating A Positive Environment

Relatively large in stature with reddish-brown or black bodies, carpenter ants can be an unwelcomed site on your residential property. These ants prefer humid climates and love it when moisture leaves them an open opportunity to nest in your home. Unfortunately, a lot of myths surrounding these ants can cause homeowners further problems when it comes to pest control. 

Myth: Carpenter ants will eat through a ton of wood in your home. 

Carpenter ants can cause damage, but they do not necessarily eat through a lot of wood like termites do. While termites use the wood as their primary food source, the carpenter ants will usually use hollowed-out areas simply for nesting and may have other food sources. Just the same, however, these insects can cause considerable damage throughout the years, especially if pest control efforts are not taken early in the infestation period. 

Myth: You won't have issues with carpenter ants unless your home has water damage. 

Water damage or excess moisture can definitely mean your home is more prone to a problem with carpenter ants. However, these insects are just as capable of making an entry into a home that has no structural issues at all. Therefore, if you do think you have spotted signs of carpenter ants, don't delay contacting a pest control agent because you assume the ants are not a threat to your home.

Myth: A carpenter ant infestation is relatively easy to point out. 

Carpenter ants tend to offer a few telltale signs that they are having around, but by the time you realize you do have an infestation, you could be facing a lot of damage and a large population of insects. For example, since these insects will burrow into walls, they may get in through the attic, hang out in the voids between walls in your home, and never really show their presence until the population is quite large. 

Myth: Carpenter ants are not attracted to the typical food sources of other ant types. 

Because many property owners assume that carpenter ants only eat wood, they also mistakenly believe the myth that these bugs won't be attracted to other food sources. However, carpenter ants are just as attracted to things like pet food, human food, and sugary substances as any other ant. Therefore, when you are working with pest control services to eradicate the ants, keeping food sources properly contained will be just as important.