Among the largest
of
ants, 1/4- to 1/2-inch long. The
most common species is black.
Habitat
Carpenter
ants are the most common property pest in the
Midwest. Midwest home and business owners are far more likely to face
an
invasion of carpenter ants than termites, which in the South and other
parts of
the country do a great deal of damage.
Carpenter
ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their
nests,
leaving hollowed-out tunnels. These colonies require a constant source
of water
to survive, and are often found in wet, decayed wood such as dead limbs
and
tree stumps. Inside, they can be found in overly wet, poorly ventilated
spaces
such as crawl spaces or attics. While carpenter ants don’t eat wood,
their
excavations pose a property threat, making ant
control imperative. In the spring, winged reproductive
ants called swarmers
fly out to start new colonies.
Diet
Will feed on nearly anything
people eat—particularly sweets and meats. Will also feed on other
insects.
Ant
control: carpenter ants
Successful carpenter ant control depends on
eliminating the parent colony, which is
usually located outdoors. Finding and treating as many nests as
possible is the
key to carpenter ant
control. Store
firewood away from your house, trim dead limbs from trees, and remove
stumps
and lumber from around the house. A frequently overlooked ant control measure is to
make sure that all plumbing or roof leaks
are sealed.
