How bad are carpenter ants?  The simple answer is very bad.  The reason is that the typical homeowner doesn’t recognize the damage that ants can do or what ongoing conditions help them do it.

Carpenter ants are a wood destroying insect, but they don’t eat wood they chew through it and build nests in it.  The problem with this pest besides their annoying appearance is that the damage they do is hidden in walls.  However, just because the damage is in the walls doesn’t mean we don’t have a good idea why they’re attracted to a particular area.

The insect world is fairly easy to understand when taken in the context of pest management.  If conducive conditions exist in a structure that allow a pest to survive, it will.  If the conditions remain the pest will not only survive, it will thrive. The following are the two biggest contributors.

Clogged gutters

Never has there been a greater conducive condition for ants than the clogged gutter.  The situation requires immediate attention form the homeowner, but yet some wait.  The clogged gutter promotes overflow which in turn can cause water damage to windows, door frames, roof lines and wall voids.  All these areas are where carpenter ants prefer to nest.  If the clogged gutters were repaired the ant issue would likely not exist in that area.

Dense vegetation

How bad are carpenter ants? Bad enough that I’m admitting a secret to prove a point.  The picture below of dense vegetation was taken at my own home just before I had it removed, and I own a pest control service.  If it could happen to me it can happen to anyone.

When vegetation sits against a house it impedes air flow and promotes moisture. It can also allow ants an avenue into the home that otherwise would not be there.  When pests are said to have been allowed access into a home it typically means that trees were touching or overhanging the house. When a home has this situation pests will never come in contact with the areas treated along the foundation.  Once they climb the dense vegetation they will completely bypass any “treated zone”. 

Last, during the summer aphids are present on lush growth and the honeydew they excrete is a preferred food source for ants.  Dense vegetation must go to control ants.

The good news

Since carpenter ants are so prevalent there are companies out there to help control and eliminate them.  If you see ants every year you’d be smart to head off the damage ants can do and call now.

If you have carpenter ants call Envirocare Pest Control at 1-888-879-6481.  We can help.