Carpenter Ants - Pest Control In Holland, MI

How To Identify Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are large ants, usually black in color, often mixed with shades of red or brown. Their colonies live in nests carved out of decaying wood. Carpenter ants often travel together in large numbers, so you may begin to suspect you have an infestation when you continue to spot them outside, and eventually inside your house. As a colony grows, you may see winged carpenter ants (commonly referred to as swarmers) that are searching for a location to reproduce and start a separate satellite colony. In West Michigan, they are most active in the summer, and usually hibernate in the winter.

Damage Caused By Carpenter Ants

Biting is not a concern, and carpenter ants do not carry noteworthy diseases. However, they can cause serious structural damage to your house. Because they make their nests in wood, they can weaken your house over time—and eventually, it could even collapse. Carpenter ant damage is often confused with termite damage, and sometimes it can require an experienced professional to tell the difference.

How Empire Pest Control Tackles A Carpenter Ant Infestation

In order to get rid of a carpenter ant infestation, we must first determine where they are coming from. We watch ant’s patterns as they move throughout the home to find possible points of entry. Once we’ve discovered where the majority of the activity is coming from, we place a chemical barrier around the home and use baiting techniques to control the colony. Then, once the colony has been dealt with, we recommend taking an additional preventative measure: correcting the moisture. Carpenter ants begin their nest building in damp wood that is easy to chew, so it is important to eliminate the moisture that attracts them. If you’ve got carpenter ants in West Michigan, give us a call—we can help.

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