There exists several ant species that are commonly found within Massachusetts homes. Some of these ant species include, the odorous house ant, the pavement ant, the Pharaoh ant and the carpenter ant. These ants are not easy to control, and each one presents a unique challenge to pest control professionals. However, it goes without saying that the carpenter ant is, by far, the most undesirable ant species to have infesting a home. This ant is categorized as a structural pest, as they damage the structural timber within homes and buildings. The carpenter ant is the most destructive ant pest in Massachusetts where they are particularly abundant and economically costly. The annual cost for one single company to replace telephone poles that sustained carpenter ant damage was found to be between 4 and 11 million dollars.
Luckily, carpenter ants are not as damaging as termites, as carpenter ants do not require wood as a food source; instead, these ants excavate wood for nesting purposes. Their colonies are also much smaller in size than termite colonies, making the rate at which they damage wood relatively slow. Also, having carpenter ants within a home does not necessarily mean that they are destroying structural wood, as these ants prefer to excavate damp and rotting sources of wood. But structural wood that is exposed to water from a leak or improper gutter drainage makes for an ideal home for carpenter ants. Perhaps the worst aspect of a Carpenter ant infestation is that their nests are often hidden within a home, and sometimes, their nests are inaccessible.
In order to eradicate a carpenter ant infestation, their nest must be found. In some cases, the nest is located outdoors near the home that they are infesting. But their nests are often located within obscure areas of a home. A carpenter ant infestation during the winter season guarantees that the nest is located indoors. Carpenter ant nests are often found behind walls, behind cupboards, beneath floorboards and beneath concrete slabs. Accessing carpenter ant nests often requires professional assistance, as removing drywall and deconstructing areas of a home are sometimes necessary to access and remove a nest.
Do you think that carpenter ants are commonly confused with termites?