Carpenter Ants
These reddish-brown ants vary from 3/8 to 1/2 inches in length. They have a single node between the thorax and abdomen, with a pinched or uneven waist. The head and eyes are large, while the mandibles are much smaller. The thorax is smooth except for one point at each side toward the back. The top of the thorax has a pair of longitudinal grooves. It is difficult to confuse this ant with any other kind, except Carpenter Bees and perhaps Pharaoh Ants.
Carpenter ants live in wood which they eat, hence their name. They may also make a meal out of a starch paste called “honeydew,” which they get from aphids and scale insects. They also eat ripe fruit, dead insects, and such food as cheese, nuts, and bread.
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ants Appearance
Carpenter ants vary in color from red to black. Sometimes, the ants may even have 2 colors on their body. They are normally 3/8 inches to 1/2 inches in length and have a single node between the thorax and abdomen with a pinched waist. The head and eyes are large, while the mandibles are much smaller. The thorax is smooth except for one point at each side toward the back. A pair of longitudinal grooves can be found on top of their thorax. They are difficult to confuse with any other kind, except Carpenter Bees and perhaps Pharaoh Ants.
Carpenter ants live in the wood they eat hence their name. They may also make a meal out of a starch paste called “honeydew,” which they get from aphids and scale insects. They also eat ripe fruit, dead insects, and such food as cheese, nuts, and bread.
Carpenter Ants Behavior
Carpenter ants are known to eat wood. They also eat food other than wood, such as cheese, meat, even dead insects. This is one of the reasons why they are so hard to get rid of because these ants have an appetite for more than just wood. Carpenter ants will often build their nests inside walls or other areas where there is wood in your house. They will also build their nests in dead parts of the tree, like stumps or logs near your home.
Carpenter Ants Elimination Methods
One way to get rid of carpenter ants is by placing sticky traps along the walls with the openings facing outward. This will trap most of the ants and hopefully eliminate your problem. However, this is not always reliable and constant inspection of the traps may be necessary.
Another method to get rid of carpenter ants is by placing small amounts of poison or boric acid in areas where you have seen these ants before such as cracks and crevices. Although this will kill most, if not all of the ants, it is not a permanent fix. Sometimes you have to keep re-applying the poison or boric acid for a while because these insects are persistent and they will try to return as soon as possible.
Contact Us
If you find any Carpenter Ants in your Charlotte County home, contact Bug Off Pest Charlotte immediately. We can help rid you of these garden pests and get your lawn or yard back to normal! As always, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about Carpenter Ants or any other pest. Call us today 941-676-2005
