The Damage Carpenter Ants Can Cause To Dayton Homes

Nobody likes to see ants crawling around their home, but seeing carpenter ants can be especially alarming. These tiny insects are much more than just your typical nuisance pests. True to their name, these destructive ants will use their saw-like jaws to cut through the wooden surfaces of your home and other structures.

At Best Choice Pest Control, we are a locally-owned pest control company that understands how destructive carpenter ants in Dayton can be. If you think you might have carpenter ants on your property, here is a look at what you need to do to ensure that these tiny insects do not damage your home and ho wwe can help with our effective pest control services in Dayton.

Carpenter Ants In Dayton: A Destructive Force Of Nature

Carpenter ants are arguably one of the most problematic and destructive ant species in Dayton. One of the things that makes the carpenter ant different from other ants is how it makes its nests. Instead of building an ant mound from dirt and other materials, carpenter ants excavate wooden surfaces and build their nest within the wood. They have extremely strong jaws that they use to drill small and smooth holes in the wood. Once they have reached deep inside the wood, they will continue to excavate until they have made elaborate tunnel systems and a spacious nesting system.

Once they have made a space inside the wood, the queen ant will start producing several eggs a day. As the colony grows, the workers will continue excavating more of the wood to make more room for the baby ants. When the colony is still new, the damage to your home will likely be minimal. However, as the colony continues to get bigger, the wooden structure will become more hollowed out and will eventually start to become brittle. To protect the structural integrity of your home and other wooden structures, contact a carpenter ant exterminator at the first sign of carpenter ants. 

How Are Carpenter Ants Different From Termites?

Many people think that carpenter ants and termites are the same thing. These two creatures do have some similarities. While they share some characteristics, these two animals have many more differences. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't actually consume the wood. Instead, they chew it up and spit it out. Carpenter ants use the wood for shelter, not food.

Termites and carpenter ants don't look the same either. Most termites have creamy white bodies and no eyes. Carpenter ants, on the other hand, look like any other typical ant. They are slightly larger than your average house ant, but they have black bodies separated into three segments: the thorax, the abdomen, and the head. If you see large black ants crawling all over wooden beams or other wooden objects in your home, contact a professional that provides pest control for carpenter ants. 

Warning Signs Of Carpenter Ant Activity In Your Dayton Home

These small creatures like to stay out of sight as much as possible. If you cannot get an up-close look at the carpenter ants, there are a few clues you can look for to determine if they are on your property.

Some of the telltale signs of a carpenter ant infestation include:

• Small holes in the walls and other wooden surfaces of your home.
• Piles of sawdust near the small holes
• Winged carpenter ants swarming around your home.

While carpenter ants don't damage homes as fast as termites, if you see any of these signs, call a professional carpenter ant control specialist as soon as possible to minimize the damage to your home.

Why To Call Dayton's Pest Experts If You Have Carpenter Ants

Professional ant control is the most effective way to eliminate carpenter ants from your home.  At Best Choice Pest Control, we have provided ant control in Dayton for years. Give us a call today to receive a free quote and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Dayton.