Visiting Fort Worth, Texas, brings to one’s mind the good old days of cowboys and cattle drives. Scenes from days gone by reminding us of the grit, determination, and resolve of hard-working Texans. The historic Fort Worth Western Stockyards brings back the glory days with the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive. While this may be a sight to behold, one “ant drive” may be working its way into your Fort Worth home. Carpenter ants have their own grit, determination, and resolve to access your property. And this is one drive you will want to head off at the pass.
Carpenter Ants In Fort Worth & The Problems They Cause
Carpenter ants can be anywhere from ½” to ⅝” long. While black carpenter ants are common, they can also come in a combination of black and red, or completely black, red, or brown. Carpenter ants are nest builders. They excavate the wood and form smooth tunnels inside. Carpenter ants do not eat wood; their sole purpose is to tunnel through wood to establish a nesting site for their colony. When they live and nest in a residence for a long period of time, they can pose a significant and costly threat to your property.
4 Signs That Carpenter Have Invaded Your Fort Worth Property
Carpenter ants act as “silent destroyers.” They quietly tunnel through wood without any external signs of damage. An observant homeowner may notice a few signs that carpenter ants have invaded their property.
Some signs are as follows:
- Seeing the presence of workers and/or “swarmers.”
- Finding small openings on the surface of wood. The gallery tunnels that a carpenter ant creates are smooth, with a sand-papered appearance.
- Observing sawdust-like shavings and/or fragments of insulation and insect body parts. (The debris below the holes is a good indication of an active infestation.)
- Soft rustling sounds coming from inside the walls.
How Do Carpenter Ants Get Into My Fort Worth Property?
Carpenter ants usually attack wood that has been softened by fungus (typically as a result of a moisture problem); therefore, an eye should be kept out for excess moisture and soft, rotting wood around the home. Even carpenter ants invade wet, decayed wood, they may eventually build paths through dry, undamaged wood as well. Typically, they will gain access to buildings through cracks around doors and windows, gaps where utilities enter the building, or straight through wet, damaged wood. They can also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs to access higher entry points.
There are multiple ways to deter these destructive pests from getting into your property and eventually causing costly damage.
Some prevention tips are as follows:
- Eliminate sources of moisture or standing water.
- Keep tree branches and other plants trimmed back from the house.
- Seal up all cracks and small openings around the bottom of doors or windows with silicone-based caulk.
- Keep firewood and building materials stored away from your home; as this is where carpenter ants like to nest.
All-Safe Pest & Termite Can Help
Since carpenter ants are destructive and cause expensive repairs, the best way to treat this pest is to contact professionals. All-Safe Pest & Termite is focused on same day/next day service to attack your pest problem as soon as possible. We offer free estimates to handle your immediate needs, as well as customized residential and commercial service plans to address preventative measures.
Carpenter ants operate in stealth mode and can cause serious damage to your property. All-Safe Pest & Termite is ready to round up these invaders and remove them from your property. Rest easy knowing that All-Safe Pest & Termite uses eco-friendly solutions for all your pest eradication needs.