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Here it is, your introductory, college-level, entomological course on carpenter ants. Just kidding. You don't need to take a course in entomology to learn how to protect your Nashville home from the destructive impact of carpenter ants. We've put together this quick guide of what every homeowner needs to know about carpenter ants.
What You're Up Against
Of all the common ants we see in Middle Tennessee, these are the worst. Carpenter ants tunnel galleries in wood. If they do this long enough, it can begin to cause structural damage and that can lead to costly repairs. Carpenter ants can also cause damage that may let rainwater into your home. This could have you up against a mold problem or some other serious issue that can arise from water damage.
The Nature of the Problem
Many people think that they'll see evidence of carpenter ants long before their home is damaged by these insects. They believe that they'll see carpenter ants crawling around in their home, getting into their pantry, and leaving sawdust all over the place. Sadly, these things rarely happen. Carpenter ants are nocturnal, so they are active at night when it isn't as easy to see them crawling around outside or inside your home. When they infest a home, they often feed on foods found outside, rather than in the pantry. They can easily feed on aphids and scales (both alive and dead) and they are particularly fond of the honeydew produced by these insects. If you have vegetation around your home, carpenter ants will have all the food they need outside, and they won't have to appear in your home in large numbers. You may, however, see a random scout ant every once in a while. As for the sawdust carpenter ants create, this is often pushed out into wall voids and other spaces where it can't be seen.
Control
So, how can you protect your Nashville area home from carpenter ants? The best solution is to invest in a residential pest control plan. Here are three reasons why:
- When you have routine visits from a service professional, you'll have routine inspections. A licensed professional is trained to detect pest activity, warning signs, and conditions that are conducive for pests. Those carpenter ants won't be able to sneak up on you.
- Your residential pest control plan will come with treatments that help reduce and control insects around your home. This reduces the insects carpenter ants eat and makes your perimeter less attractive to them.
- There are scarier pests in Middle Tennessee than carpenter ants. Residential pest control can give you coverage for termites, ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rodents, and a whole lot more.
Don't wait till you see signs of carpenter ants. Reach out to our Nashville pest control experts and get proactive pest protection for your home and keep those pests in check.