Most ants around Fort Worth are attracted to moisture levels, tall grass, and lots and lots of food! But for these strange insects, the 'food’ around your house may look a whole lot more like 2x4s than sugary snacks!
Carpenter ants are destructive members of the ant family that are frequently spotted in southern states such as Texas. Their similarities with wood-eating termites go more than skin deep and strike fear into the hearts of many a home or business owner. Here are some ways to know if you have spotted a carpenter ant crawling around your Fort Worth property.
- Carpenter ants are some of the largest ant species in North America, measuring up to ¼ to 5/8 an inch long.
- These pests are often dark or shiny black in appearance.
- Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood but instead tunnel through readily available wooden objects to create a safe space for their young.
- Carpenter ants send out sexually mature adults with wings to spread their species. This is one of the many ways these pests blend in with their termite cousins.
Carpenter ants are attracted to many things in residential and commercial environments, including exposed wood items, trash, and compost heaps. While they need wood to build their colonies, this species of ant does not consume wood to live. Like any other ant type, Carpenter ants require real food with protein and sugar to survive. This includes but is not limited to:
- Dead insects that are smaller than carpenter ants
- Meat items, peanut butter, or soft drinks
- Honeydew secretions from aphids
- Compost bins with incorrect food deposits
- High-fat pet foods or bird seeds
Carpenter ants do not always break into homes for infestation purposes, but their presence in an indoor environment may point towards a nefarious presence that is more than 'wood deep.'
The Extent Of Carpenter Ant Damage In Fort Worth Homes
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood per se, but they can quickly chew through wooden structures, supports, and furniture items with ease. Their large mandibles and generally large body frames require quite a lot of wood removal for tunnels, colonies, and larvae rearing areas.
Termites cause as much as 5 billion dollars’ worth of household damage per year, which means that carpenter ants may not be far behind.
Carpenter ants may be extremely difficult to get rid of once they become established. This is due to a variety of factors, mainly including the ant’s rate of reproduction, the ability to fly to new areas when threatened, and the difficulty in identifying carpenter ants from much less dangerous ant species (such as pavement ants).
If you need help identifying carpenter ant vectors in your Fort Worth home, feel free to contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for a no-obligation inspection process at any time.
Cut Off Carpenter Ants – Count on All-Safe Pest & Termite!
While we always suggest household prevention as the first line of defense against carpenter ant activity, there is no way to get rid of a pest problem after it has built up. Established infestations and troublesome pests are best rooted out by a company with the professional treatments and knowledgeable personnel to do the job right.
The best way to get rid of carpenter ant infestations is to call in the professionals at all All-Safe Pest & Termite. Contact our Fort Worth office today to schedule a treatment time, or ask all of your pressing questions before the visit. We make controlling all pests a snap – guaranteed!