Carpenter Ant Pest Control in Toronto
IdentificationCarpenter ants are a type of ants that can cause damage to wooden structures by tunneling through them. They are different from other ants by their physical characteristics and behavior. Here are some ways to identify carpenter ants:
Why do I have carpenter ants ?Carpenter ants are attracted to wood that is moist, soft, or damaged by fungi or other insects. They use their powerful jaws to chew through the wood and create tunnels and chambers for their nests. They do not eat the wood, but discard it as sawdust-like shavings outside their nest entrances. Carpenter ants can also nest in hollow spaces like wall voids, attic spaces, and hollow doors. They can even be found behind books, drawers, and styrofoam insulation.
They usually enter your house through cracks and openings in the foundation, windows, doors, or roof. They can also use tree branches or other vegetation that touch your house as bridges to access your home. They may also hitchhike on firewood or other wooden items that you bring into your house.
How worried should I be about carpenter ants ?Carpenter ants can cause significant damage to your home if left untreated. They can weaken the wooden structures of your house by hollowing them out. They can also damage electrical wires and insulation by chewing through them. Carpenter ants can also pose a health risk by contaminating your food with bacteria or fungi that they carry on their bodies or in their mouths.
They are not easy to get rid of, as they can have multiple nests inside and outside your house. They can also travel long distances between their nests and their food sources. Carpenter ants are most active at night, so you may not notice them during the day. However, you can look for signs of their presence, such as sawdust-like shavings near woodwork, small holes in wood surfaces, rustling noises inside walls or ceilings, or large black ants crawling around your house.
How can I prevent carpenter ants from invading ?The best way to prevent carpenter ants from invading your house is to eliminate their potential nesting sites and food sources. Here are some tips to follow:
Remove wood debris from around your house, such as dead trees, stumps, logs, or branches.
Move wood piles away from your house and store them off the ground.
Trim back any trees or shrubs that touch your house or roof.
Check your gutters and downspouts for clogs and leaks and keep them clean and free-flowing.
Repair any cracks or holes in your foundation, walls, windows, doors, or roof.
Seal any gaps or openings around pipes, wires, vents, or outlets.
Replace any wood that is rotten, damaged, or infested with carpenter ants.
Paint or stain any exposed wood to protect it from moisture and decay.
Improve the ventilation and drainage of your crawl spaces, basements, attics, and bathrooms.
Use a dehumidifier or fan to reduce the humidity in your house.
Clean up any crumbs or spills of food or drinks immediately.
Store food in sealed containers or in the refrigerator.
Dispose of garbage regularly and keep trash cans covered and away from your house.
Avoid leaving pet food out overnight or in areas accessible to carpenter ants.
How do carpenter ant colonies develop ?Carpenter ant colonies develop through a process called swarming. Swarming occurs when winged male and female carpenter ants emerge from their nests to mate. This usually happens in late spring or early summer. After mating, the males die and the fertilized females (also called queens) land and shed their wings. They then look for a suitable place to start a new colony.
The queens prefer to nest in moist and decaying wood that is already hollowed out by fungi or other insects. They use their mandibles to enlarge the cavity and lay their first batch of eggs (15 to 20). They feed and tend to the larvae until they develop into adult workers (all sterile females). The workers take over the nest-building duties and expand the colony by creating more tunnels and chambers in the wood.
The workers also forage for food outside the nest and bring it back to feed the queen and the larvae. The queen continues to lay eggs and produce more workers for the colony. As the colony grows larger (up to several thousand workers), it may establish smaller satellite nests in nearby locations. These satellite nests are connected to the main nest by trails of workers. The satellite nests may also contain additional queens that help increase the reproductive potential of the colony.
What does a carpenter ant queen look like ?A carpenter ant queen is the largest and most important member of the colony. She is responsible for laying eggs and producing more workers for the colony. She can live up to 25 years and lay up to 20 eggs per day.
The queen has a dark brownish-black body, with a reddish-brown upper body. She has three body segments: a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. Her head has two large compound eyes, two long antennae, and a pair of strong mandibles. Her thorax has three pairs of legs and a pair of wings (only before mating). Her abdomen has a narrow waist (called a petiole) that connects it to the thorax, and a large bulbous segment (called a gaster) that contains her reproductive organs.
A carpenter ant queen is about 25 mm (1 inch) long, which is nearly five times the size of a typical worker. She can be distinguished from other ants by her large size, her reddish-brown upper body, and her narrow waist.
Do carpenter ants fly ? Carpenter ants can fly, but only during their mating season. Only the winged male and female carpenter ants (also called alates or swarmers) can fly. They emerge from their nests in large numbers to mate in the air. This usually happens in late spring or early summer, on warm and humid days.
After mating, the males die and the females land and shed their wings. They then look for a suitable place to start a new colony. The wingless female carpenter ants (also called queens) do not fly again.
The worker carpenter ants (all sterile females) do not have wings and cannot fly. They stay in their nests or forage for food on the ground or on vegetation.
When to call a carpenter ant exterminator ?The best is to call us as soon as possible. We service the Greater Toronto Area, call us now 647 849 4441
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