Carpenter Ants Attack

General Information

Carpenter ants are big. They have big mandibles which they use for chewing away wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Instead, they create their homes by tunneling. The chew massive galleries and pathways. Since your home has wooden studs holding the ceiling together, carpenter ants can create a structural problem for your house. Since they live and toil behind the walls of your home, the problem often goes unnoticed. The coloring for carpenter ants differs. They often come in jet black, but they can also be red and black, or even reddish to yellow. Carpenter ants usually get their start into home through water damaged wood. Once indoors they can and will chew through sound lumber. If left untreated they can ruin your home and make it uninhabitable. Do worry though, because they leave signs that will help you know if there is a problem.

The Signs of an Infestation

• Debris piles: Since carpenter ants do not eat the wood, they will push it out of their home. If you notice piles of large grained saw dust, mixed with dead ant parts, it is a good sign that there is something going on behind your walls.
• Discarded wings: Like other types of ants, carpenter ant colonies swarm. This is when winged individuals go on mating flights in preparation for starting new colonies. After the flight, they lose their wings. Often, the ants will accumulate around your windows and leave their wings on your window sills.
• The Sound: That’s right if you listen to your walls close enough, you can hear the sounds of ants moving out of sight, just behind your sheetrock. It will sound like a slight rustling. Other people describe it as a soft pattering noise.
• Worker ants: Since carpenter ants don’t eat the wood, they are still on the lookout for food. They might decide that your pantry is their pantry. You will find big worker ants rummaging around in your food or going after crumbs on your floor.