April's Pest of the Month - The Carpenter Ant

Carpenter Ant (Camponotus Pennsylvanicus)

Carpenter ants are among the largest species that you will find in or around your home. Like other ant species, carpenter ants are social insects that live in colonies that are made up of several castes of adult forms that perform different functions in the colony. Worker size carpenter ants range in size from 1/4" to 7/16" while the queen can reach 9/16" in length. The queen is the producer of the offspring which are in egg form and develop into the larval stage after about 24 days. Larvae are white, legless little creatures that most resemble a maggot. The Larvae develop into pupae (pupal stage) and will be darker in color than the lavae and capsule-shaped. Soon the pupae become adults and are the stage most viewed by the homeowner. This black ominous creature is the adult carpenter ant and the one that prompts most of the calls to our office.

In the spring, carpenter ants may swarm. This is when winged adults emerge from  the colony for the purpose of reproducing. After the mating process concludes, the male dies leaving scattered dead ants around the area. Those dead ants you see are not the end, do not panic, but never ignore seasonal sightings such as this because it may be evidence of a more serious problem that should be addressed. The queen, the lucky girl does not die, but sheds her wings and goes about the task of searching out the cavity that she will lay 15 to 20 eggs. All the queens that have mated during this process are doing the same, now thats a lot of ants. After just a few years the worker caste of the colony can reach 2000 to 3000 workers in population.

Besides the use of pesticides, you can help to prevent carpenter ants in your home by conducting inspections in or around the house.

1.   Check for areas the have high moisture and try to eliminate the moisture by redirecting

      any water contributing.

2.   Keep gutters clean and downspout clear of blockage. Also make sure downspouts run far

      away from the house not to cause pooling water at the foundation.

3.   Do not allow outside water spigots to leak.

4.   Do not stack firewood in or against the house. Stack firewood outside the home and keep

      it off the ground for ventilation.

5.   Repaire cracks in foundation with ready to use concrete patch to exlude carpenter ants

      and other intruders.

6.   Ventilate crawlspaces and do your best to keep them dry. We can install vents to help.

7.   Keep all tree limbs trimmed back away from the exterior walls and rooflines.

8.   Keep all bushes, shrubs and planting trimmed back 18" to 24" away from the exterior

      walls, foundation, or porches to allow for proper ventilation and access for any

      inspections or treatments.

DO have us at the least perform a seasonal exterior perimeter spray to prevent infestations. We may also make recommendations on more ways to help prevent pests while we are there.