Carpenter ants are true ants, and larger than average.  As their name suggests, they like wood.  It’s where they build their homes and nests.  Carpenter ants are sometimes mistaken for termites, but the big difference is that carpenter ants don’t eat wood.  They just burrow through it.

Of course, this doesn’t make much of a difference if you’ve got carpenter ants chewing their way through your walls.

Carpenter ants particularly like wood that is moist, or partially rotted.  It’s easier for them to burrow through, as well as providing them with a source of water.  If there are any places in your home where wood, or wood pulp products, has become soaked, there’s a very good chance that carpenter ants will find their way to it.

How To Prevent Carpenter Ants

The most important thing is to never let wet or rotting wood get near your home, such as woodpiles or old stumps.  Once carpenter ants have set up shop in the vicinity, they’re much more likely to start looking for a way into your home.

Any wood left outside should be kept far away from your home.  If there are stumps or similar old wood near the house, they should be removed.

In addition, like other ants, carpenter ants will frequently make use of greenery to access your home.  If you have trees whose branches touch your house, or bushes that directly connect, these should be trimmed back.

Finally, keep an eye on your exterior, and seal up any ground-level cracks or holes you see.  Use strong weatherproofed caulk for long-term protection.

Getting Rid Of Carpenter Ants

Unfortunately, there are simply no good DIY solutions for carpenter ants.  They’re a hardy species, and it takes the knowledge of finding the nesting site and deploying the appropriate products to eliminate the nest.  If you believe you have a carpenter ant infestation (marked by seeing large, black ants, sawdust/shavings, or winged swarmers) you need a professional Ohio ant exterminator to handle the problem.

Call Apex Pest Control for a free estimate and stop the infestation, fast!