Many pests can invade your Elk Grove property, but one kind of pest is extremely common and also very invasive. Ants are these difficult pests, and there's a good chance you've seen at least one species of ant around your home or business at one point or another. Maybe you've seen ants scuttling around the kitchen or found them coming out of small holes in the dirt, but one especially difficult ant species in Elk Grove to be aware of is the carpenter ant.
Overall, carpenter ants can be difficult to tell apart from other varieties based on sight alone. They are dark brown or black, and they will sometimes fly. They can easily be mistaken for similar species, such as pavement ants, so their behavior is often the best way to tell them apart.
Carpenter ants are known for their ability to tunnel through wooden structures. However, unlike termites, they don't actually eat the wood. Instead, they make holes through it in order to build their nests.
In this guide, you'll learn about the damage carpenter ants cause and get some useful prevention tips.
Just How Destructive Are Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants are a two-fold problem because they can also get into food sources, just like other species of ants. They will contaminate any food they get into, even if they aren't known to carry any particular diseases. They also aren't picky about what they eat. They will consume pet food, sweets, meats, sugars, and much more.
Then, there is all the damage they can cause with their tunneling habits. They usually aren't quite as destructive as termites, but they can do similar kinds of damage. Carpenter ants will bore through furniture, decks, siding, flooring, and support beams. The longer the infestation remains and the bigger it gets, the more damage they'll do. And, this can mean expensive repairs for you.
Five Carpenter Ant Prevention Tips
Since carpenter ants can cause so many problems, taking steps to prevent them ahead of time is key. There are some simple measures you can take to keep them at bay, and you can start by following these five steps:
- Trim hedges, trees, and bushes away from the exterior of the building.
- Store pet food indoors and keep kitchen spaces cleaned.
- Get lids for all trash cans and clean up yard debris.
- Remove any water-damaged or dead wood from around the property.
- Contact pest control experts in the area for assistance.
The Easy Way To Deter Carpenter Ants
If you think you have carpenter ants around your property, trying to remove them on your own can be extremely challenging. Because they can live inside so many wooden items and be so invasive, most attempts to remove them using DIY methods don't work very well.
Thankfully, there is reliable ant control at hand. The professionals at Pro Active Pest Control offer ongoing carpenter ant control services that will eradicate any current problems and keep them from coming back in the future. Just give us a call today to request a quote.