An ant infestation may not seem like a big deal, but it’s a lot worse than you may think, especially if it’s a species that’s hazardous to have in and . Arizona is home to several different species of ants, including dangerous ones like carpenter ants. Carpenter ants aren’t particularly hazardous to your health. Still, they can deal a significant amount of damage to your home and property in a short amount of time, compromising the structural integrity and costing you thousands of dollars in repairs.
How To Identify Carpenter Ants In Tempe
This species may be difficult to identify by color since they can be black, brown, red, or any combination of the three, but one of the easiest ways to recognize them is by size. Carpenter ants are the largest , and workers can range anywhere between ¼ to ¾ of an inch in length. Identifying an infestation is a fiasco, though, because carpenter ant infestations are incredibly similar to termite infestations.
There are a lot of similarities between the two, such as pinholes in walls and wooden furniture, small piles of frass around the home, hollow-sounding wood, erratic patterned galleries, dry crumbling wood, and clicking sounds from within the walls. Thankfully, these infestations aren’t entirely identical, and there are ways to differentiate between the two:
- It’s rare to see termites outside of their tunnels, but ants don’t eat the wood they live in, so if you notice foraging insects, then it’s most likely carpenter ants
- Termites and carpenter ants look nothing alike – if the insect is bigger than 1/8 of an inch, has elbowed antennae, and has well-defined waists, then it’s not termites
- Worker termites are also cream-colored, and carpenter ants are most commonly brown and black
- Termite galleries are much rougher, while carpenter ants keep smoother tunnels
- Reproductive termites have two sets of uniform wings and undefined waists, and carpenter ants have two sets of asymmetrical wings and defined waists
Why Carpenter Ant Infestations Are Bad For Your Tempe Home, And How To Keep Them Out
All ants have the potential of contaminating food sources and surfaces when they infest homes, but that isn’t what makes them dangerous. With carpenter ants, the real danger they pose to your Tempe household is structural damage. and all of those galleries and tunnels put a serious strain on the stability of the framework. Prevention methods won’t eradicate any current infestations, but they’ll :
- Address any moisture issues around your home – leaky pipes, detached shingles, extensive water damage, moisture-retaining rooms
- Seal up any cracks and holes around the exterior of your home – broken siding, cracked foundation, gaps around pipes and wires, loose boards in the roof and trim, exposed and untreated wood
- Replace any damaged insulation around doors and windows
- Make food products less accessible by storing them in airtight containers
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum regularly
- Wipe down counters, dining tables, and food prep areas daily
- Clean up food and drink spills immediately after they happen
- Keep tight-fitting lids on all indoor and outdoor trash cans
- Remove any debris from your lawn, and keep gutters regularly cleaned
- Trim hedges, garden plants, and tree limbs away from the exterior of your home
How To Handle A Carpenter Ant Infestation In Your Tempe Home
Dangerous infestations like carpenter ants shouldn’t be dealt with alone. If you’re struggling with an infestation in your Tempe home, then Green Home Pest Control is here to help. We offer effective and solutions that are tough on pests while still being safe for children and pets, and every service comes with our pest-free guarantee. We’re always here to help, so get in contact with us today to get your free estimate.
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