Although carpenter ants don’t spread disease, they can be a considerable nuisance and can cause damage to your home. Often confused with termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they do tunnel through it to build nests. They can be difficult to locate and require professional treatment because of the damage they can cause to wood elements and foam insulation in your home.
Confirming that your house is being infested by carpenter ants is crucial to successfully clear your home of these wood-destroying pests. Carpenter ants require specialized ant solutions that differ from other types of ants.
Carpenter ants are one of the largest ant species in size found in the United States. They are usually most active during the spring and summer months and they forage for food at night. They vary in color but are generally black or dark-bodied.
Carpenter ants range in size from ¼ ¾ inches in length. There are two classes of these ants, each with different job classifications. The major workers, also known as the soldiers ants, are the largest ants in a colony. Soldiers defend the nest against natural predators. The majority of the colony is made up of smaller minor workers who take care of the young and search for food. Carpenter ants feed on living and dead insects and anything people consume.
Winged carpenter ants (also known as ‘swarmers’) are sometimes mistaken for termites. These are winged ants that leave the colonies to mate and start their own colonies. Larger than the average carpenter ant, swarmers are 3/4 inch in size. If you spot carpenter ant swarmers, it may be an indication that a colony is located nearby.
Carpenter ants create parent nests and satellite nests in decaying, moist wood. The parent nest holds the ant queen, eggs, larvae, pupae, and workers, and it is typically found outdoors. The satellite nests include older larvae, pupae, and worker ants but will not have a queen or eggs. For black carpenter ants, multiple satellite nests can be present in separate spots around your property. Their nests can be present indoors: in wood, voids of walls, and insulation, and outdoors in stumps, firewood, and rotted fence posts. Sawdust with dead ants and parts of eaten insects can signify that carpenter ants may have made a nest in that area. It can, however, be difficult to find the nest for a couple of reasons:
If a carpenter ant nest is inside your property, you will want to get it treated as soon as possible. Carpenter ants can do considerable damage to timber in your home. You should ensure that all the ants have been destroyed before you begin to replace any damaged wood in your home. For these reasons, we recommend that you contact a professional pest control company to get rid of the carpenter ants for you to be certain of a thorough and complete job.
Look for slits and holes in any wood parts of your property. Carpenter ants will often build nests in wood walls, cabinets, beams, hollow doors, and structural wood. They are also drawn to wood that is moist, so look for areas that are slightly damp.
Another telltale sign of a nearby nest is frass. Frass is the material that is left behind after carpenter ants dig into the wood. Frass is easily identified as it closely resembles small piles of sawdust.
Once you’ve found the general area of the nest, place a small morsel of food to attract the ants. A trail of carpenter ants may eventually form from the bait that you can follow back to their nest.
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There are several ways to go about destroying the nest once you find it. The following are some of the most effective methods:
Diatomaceous earth is another type of dust that can be used to kill carpenter ants by applying it directly to their nest. This method damages the ants' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate and die. This should be applied with the proper equipment into voids and inconspicuous cracks and crevice. Make sure you follow the label as this is a regulatory requirement. It is a great option for those seeking a more eco-friendly solution.
Boric acid, derived from the element Boron, is designed to be ingested by the ants after they walk over it. Once ingested, the product disrupts the digestive system, leading to starvation. Similar to diatomaceous earth, apply behind wall voids, cracks, crevices, and other inconspicuous areas while avoiding moist areas. Follow the label.
One thing to keep in mind when tracking carpenter ants is not spraying them away from their nest. Improper application may cause a chemical disturbance to the ants, which may cause them to move to a new location, which means you’ll have to start all over again.
Due to the structural damage carpenter ants can do, it is important to detect them early. Getting a carpenter ant inspection with Ehrlich is a smart way to see if you have an issue. A carpenter ant inspection includes examining walls outside your property along with those inside your attic and basement. Places with moisture and wood will be inspected as moisture makes wood weaker and susceptible to fungal growth and, therefore, more vulnerable to attack.
Ehrlich Pest Control will utilize the carpenter ant control methods below, depending on the specific nature of your infestation.
Dust material treatments - A very effective treatment method for carpenter ants indoors. Pesticidal dust materials can flush out hidden ant nests and treat the carpenter ant nest directly.
Nest treatments—The most effective method of treating carpenter ants is treating their nests with residual insecticides.
Perimeter barrier treatments—In addition to treating any carpenter ant nests, treatment with a liquid residual material is applied to the perimeter of your home.
Regular inspections of your home by a pest control professional are the best way to identify and prevent any issues in your home with carpenter ants or any other pest. The Ehrlich year-round protection plan offers regularly scheduled preventive services every four months. Contact your local Ehrlich office for more details on the year-round protection plan.
There are several indicators that could signal a carpenter ant problem within your home.
Winged carpenter ants (swarmers) – These ants, often seen emerging around baseboards, window casings, or vents, are usually most noticeable in spring or summer. If you spot more than 20 winged ants indoors, it may suggest a nearby large colony, especially if they continue to appear over several days.
Noise – A faint crunching or rustling sound from within walls or wooden structures can be a telltale sign of carpenter ant activity. This sound is often a result of ants moving through the wood as they build and expand their nests, and it may be more noticeable in quiet areas of the home.
Sawdust (Frass) – Carpenter ants do not consume wood but instead chew through it to build their nests, pushing out frass that resembles sawdust. This sawdust-like material can accumulate in small piles near the nest site, usually close to wooden beams, baseboards, or other wooden areas in your home.
Damaged wood – Unlike termites, which eat wood, carpenter ants excavate it, leaving behind smooth, clean galleries. These tunnels have a sandpapered appearance and can weaken the structure over time if the infestation is extensive. Damage often appears around moist or decaying wood, where carpenter ants are more likely to establish their nests.
Water leaks - Since carpenter ants nest in water-compromised wood, a leak from the roof or a compromised water pipe may be the direct cause.
Firewood inside the home - Firewood brought in from the outside is very susceptible to carpenter ant infestation.
Ants are seen on the interior during the cold months - Carpenter ants do not typically forage for food in cold weather, so any activity noted during the cold months is usually indicative of an indoor infestation.
Additional signs to watch for include weakened structures or areas where wood sounds hollow when tapped. As carpenter ants expand their nests, they compromise the integrity of the wood, which may become more visible over time. Recognizing these signs early on can help you address a potential infestation before it becomes a major issue.
Carpenter ants often enter your home in an attempt to find food, and they are attracted to a variety of foods. Below are a number of steps that you can take to prevent them from entering your home.
Always cover food and store food in containers.
Clean up food and liquid spills immediately.
Seal any cracks and crevices in your home which may serve as entryways.
Eliminate moisture problems in and around your home, as carpenter ants prefer moist places to dry environments.
Remove excessive debris build-up in gutters.
Diver water away from the foundation of the home.
Replace any decayed wood, as nests are often found in rotten wood.
Replace landscape timbers if they are infested.
Store firewood away from your home and keep it dry and elevated to allow air circulation. Firewood is one of the easiest ways to carry these ants into your home, so make sure you check the wood for signs of infestation.
Remove nearby rotting or dead trees in your backyard. These often provide ideal conditions for a carpenter ant nest.
Remove excess vegetation.
Prevent trees and shrubs from touching the home.
Ehrlich professional carpenter ant exterminators have many years of experience in carpenter ant removal. They understand carpenter ant habits and use that knowledge to develop a carpenter ant control program for your home.
Book a free inspection service online or over the phone at 800-837-5520.
The quickest way to get rid of carpenter ants is to treat the nest directly with residual dust or residual liquid. Additionally, baiting can slowly reduce the ant population on a long-term basis, as worker ants bring the treated bait back to the nest, helping to eliminate both foraging and nesting ants. For large infestations, our professional ant pest control service can apply stronger, targeted treatments for rapid and comprehensive results.
Carpenter ants can be driven away by removing factors that attract them, such as moisture, food sources, and decaying wood. Sealing cracks, repairing water-damaged wood, and keeping food stored away can make your home less appealing to them. Natural deterrents like vinegar, essential oils (such as tea tree or peppermint), or lemon juice temporarily discourage carpenter ants from entering treated areas. However, these methods are typically more effective as a deterrent rather than a complete solution.
Professionals use a thorough inspection with targeted insecticides, non-repellent sprays, and baiting systems to effectively eliminate carpenter ant colonies. These treatments are designed to reach deep into the nest and impact the entire colony. For specialized solutions, contact us today for expert assistance.
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