ANTS PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
The gradual growth in human population and the numerous ways of known deforesting to establish new human communities paves the way to have these natural habitats for ants to live with us and in our homes. While most ants are simply kitchen, bathroom and yard ants, there's one type of ant that can really ruin your day (not to mention, the structure of your house). Tip: Prompt Action can remove these and other pests.
Carpenter ants get their name from their habit of building nests in wood. The most known species of Carpenter ant that lives with human habitation is the Black carpenter ant, with the scientific name Camponotus pennsylvanicus.
They cause damage through the creation of burrows through wood in order to create or expand nesting sites. The tunnels are usually found in window frames and door frames, and crawlspaces under roofs, chimneys, sinks and bathtubs. Smaller species may live in pre-existing voids, such as curtain rods, hollow-core doors, between studs in walls and around windows. Even though they do not eat the wood, they do cut galleries into the wood to build their nests and discard the wood in the form of sawdust. If you see little piles of wood shavings or “frass” under windows or door frames, it means there is a big chance that carpenter ants are inside your home.
A carpenter ant colony is often composed of a series of nests. In their natural habitat carpenter ants nest in both live, dead trees, stumps, and logs. They can nest in both dry and moist wood but prefer moist wood. As the colony expands, worker ants will cut further into the wood, creating galleries that enlarge the size of the nest for the ever-growing colony. These worker ants will go out and build satellite colonies, which may have large numbers of worker ants but no queen. Carpenter ants feed off of sugar solutions from honey dew-producing insects such as aphids, sweets,and the juices of insects they capture.
Carpenter ants get their name from their habit of building nests in wood. The most known species of Carpenter ant that lives with human habitation is the Black carpenter ant, with the scientific name Camponotus pennsylvanicus.
They cause damage through the creation of burrows through wood in order to create or expand nesting sites. The tunnels are usually found in window frames and door frames, and crawlspaces under roofs, chimneys, sinks and bathtubs. Smaller species may live in pre-existing voids, such as curtain rods, hollow-core doors, between studs in walls and around windows. Even though they do not eat the wood, they do cut galleries into the wood to build their nests and discard the wood in the form of sawdust. If you see little piles of wood shavings or “frass” under windows or door frames, it means there is a big chance that carpenter ants are inside your home.
A carpenter ant colony is often composed of a series of nests. In their natural habitat carpenter ants nest in both live, dead trees, stumps, and logs. They can nest in both dry and moist wood but prefer moist wood. As the colony expands, worker ants will cut further into the wood, creating galleries that enlarge the size of the nest for the ever-growing colony. These worker ants will go out and build satellite colonies, which may have large numbers of worker ants but no queen. Carpenter ants feed off of sugar solutions from honey dew-producing insects such as aphids, sweets,and the juices of insects they capture.
Ants prevention is achieved by taking care of conditions both inside and outside your house. There is an abundance of information on how to target these specific ants in Hayward WI for extermination, but there is also information available for targeting these species for prevention as well.
Keep an eye out for peeling paint, mold or fungal growth, or deteriorating wood along entrances and around window frames. Do not leave food out and try to keep all surfaces of your home clean. Eliminate potential nesting sites by removing dead tree stumps and clipping back dead tree branches that hang over homes and garages. In addition, trash cans should be kept covered, and any crumbs or spills should be promptly cleaned up.
Keep an eye out for peeling paint, mold or fungal growth, or deteriorating wood along entrances and around window frames. Do not leave food out and try to keep all surfaces of your home clean. Eliminate potential nesting sites by removing dead tree stumps and clipping back dead tree branches that hang over homes and garages. In addition, trash cans should be kept covered, and any crumbs or spills should be promptly cleaned up.
When treating your house for an ant infestation, determining what ant type is present saves guesswork, as different ants require different treatments, since ant species have unique food preferences and habits. Having regular periodic inspections for vulnerable soft spots around your home will go a long way in ensuring against infestation. Contact your local ant control specialists today and save more in the long-run.