The Reasons Why You Should Watch Out for Carpenter Ants

For some, ants are just a normal kind of insect that you can easily find anywhere. But the truth is, we are inviting them to our yards and homes once we left food for them like cookie crumbs, candy bars, empty soda cans, and food leftovers.

But do you know that a certain kind of ant can cause serious damages to homes? Yes, the carpenter ants can do that. They build their nests on structural lumber such as those in windows and hollow doors as well as other wooden parts that have been softened by moisture.

Identifying Carpenter Ants
If left undetected, carpenter ants can surely cause considerable damages to homes. Therefore, you have to equip yourself with the proper knowledge of identifying this damaging ant. Read on so that you can tell the difference between carpenter ants and the regular ants.

Firstly, you have to check the physical characteristics of the ant to identify its kind. Usually, carpenter ants are black or red in color. Sometimes, they’re even a combination of both.

Next, check if these ants’ thoraxes resemble a rounded shape. The thorax is the part below their head. Also, check their antenna and waist. If they appear slimmer, then those are carpenter ants.

Signs of Infestation
You can tell if your home has been invaded by carpenter ants when you find any form of damages in wooden structures. These ants have a knack of carving through wood and they do so in great numbers. If you see any holes in posts or walls made of wood, you can be sure that carpenter ants have a role in these damages.

In doubt whether termites are making the damages in your home? One sign that will help you determine if you’re dealing with termites or carpenter ants is the presence of sawdust. This indicates that the wood was carved through, and not eaten by termites. Termites damage wood by eating it and making it their source of sustenance. On the other hand, carpenter ants excavate through it to build nests for their kind.

Now that you know how to identify carpenter ants and how to look for their presence in your home, you can now take the appropriate action to get rid of them. On that aspect, you can count on the Jersey City Exterminators to eliminate them in the fastest time possible.