The arrival of spring is seen by most people as a welcome respite from the cold winter. However, spring’s arrival can also herald the arrival of common household pests. Examples of these are carpenter ants. It may be time to start thinking about preventing carpenter ants from damaging your home.

Generally, carpenter ants are active during the warmer months, looking to expand their colonies. Usually, these ants prefer building their nest outdoors, but at the same time, these pests may also build satellite nests near or inside residences.

Sightings of carpenter ants inside a home do not necessarily translate to an infestation. Sometimes, worker ants may venture inside homes while foraging for food.

Carpenter ants vs. regular ants

Carpenter ants can be distinguished from ordinary ants by looking at a few things.

For one, carpenters are larger in size compared to their regular counterparts. Like regular ants, carpenter ants come in different colors, including black, red, brown, or a combination of these.

Looking closely at carpenter ants, you will see that these have larger, heart-shaped heads. Additionally, worker carpenter ants have smooth thoraxes.

Carpenter ants or termites

At first glance, the signs which indicate the presence of carpenter ants may seem like the signs which indicate a termite infestation.

Although both insects damage timber, carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites. Instead, these ants hollow out wood as they build their nests.

In their natural habitat, carpenter ants can be found building nests in moist and decaying wood. In residential properties, carpenter ants may infest dead trees and outdoor structures with wood like porches, windowsills, and roofs.

Keeping carpenter ants at bay

Carpenter ants can cause immense damage to properties. As such, preventing carpenter ants from wreaking havoc in your home is essential.

But what exactly can you do?

The most important thing homeowners can do when it comes to preventing a carpenter ants infestation is to deprive these pests of the conditions they require in order to build suitable nests.

According to Stockton pest control experts, one of the first things that you need to do is to check your home’s plumbing and look for signs of leaks, specifically in areas with wooden structures. These include basements and attics. Upon identification of problem areas in your home’s plumbing, perform the necessary repairs or call in professional plumbers operating in your area.

As much as possible, avoid placing in or around your home firewood, dead trees, and other potential nests. Store firewood away from the main structure and dispose of dead trees as well as other organic debris in your yard. Contact AAI Pest Control if you have any questions or concerns.