Carpenter ants are among the largest species of ants in North America measuring from 1/8 of an inch to approximately 5/16th of an inch long. They can be black or black and red in color. These pests cause significant structural damage to homes and businesses if left unchecked. They are also known to infest rotting wood as well as live trees.
Carpenter ants are finicky eaters but they are known to have sweet tooth. They feed off of the honeydew that is excreted from other insects, such as aphids. In some instances, carpenter ants will bring aphids into their protective galleries that they create. There the aphids will live, be fed, and be groomed by the carpenter ant workers. Once the aphids stop producing the sweet honeydew for the carpenter ants, the aphids transition to being on the menu for the carpenter ants.
In most instances, in structures, carpenter ants are attracted to areas that have suffered from some sort of water damage. A leaking pipe that has damaged indoor or outdoor wood is an invitation for carpenter ant infestations. There carpenter ants will carve into the wet wood so that they can form tunnels and galleries for traveling, nesting, food storage, and nurseries. Common places where carpenter ants attack are roofs, soffits, fascia, bathrooms, basements, crawlspaces, and kitchens.
It is important to nip carpenter ant infestations in the bud early to stop these pests from causing extensive damage to a structure. A Monmouth County, NJ exterminator such as Allison Pest Control will be able to locate and eradicate carpenter ants in or around a home or business. Call us today for expert extermination services.