WARNING: Unwanted Visitors Are Trying to Get Into Your Cape Home

Because of the dampness of Cape Cod and the Islands, Carpenter ants in the late spring and early summer are a particular nuisance.

Carpenter ants are found all over the world, but they are recognized as the number one wood destroying pest in New England and cause more damage to structures than termites.

These large ants prefer dead and damp, decaying wood in which they make their nests. They cut tunnels called galleries into the wood to provide passage to and from the nest. They do not eat the wood but cut through it to expand the size of the nest, usually in a direction parallel to the grain.

There are several species of these ants that may be infesting and damaging buildings and homes. They achieve a size between ¼” to ½” (0.6-1.3 cm) and are most active during the night hours.

Signs of infestation flying ants and big black “worker ants”

There are several signs that your home or business may have a carpenter ant infestation. The first sign may be the sighting of flying ants or large black worker ants roaming about the home; sometimes they have bits of material that they are carrying in their mandibles. These ants are foraging and will often travel over one hundred yards from their nest in search of food.

In the spring, carpenter ant colonies produce “swarmers” which are the reproductive winged ants that take flight in order to establish a new colony. They are often mistaken for termites, but in either case the appearance of swarms of black ants with wings is a good indication that you need to find an experienced carpenter ant control or termite extermination service immediately.

Did you see a mysterious pile of something that looks like sawdust?

Another indication that you need to contact a trained and certified carpenter ant control service is the appearance of material called “frass”, which looks like sawdust and may contain insect parts and bits of soil. This is usually found underneath nest openings and is the result of the tunnels that are bored into the wood by the ants. When you notice this material, which could indicate a nest site, tap against the area with the end of a screwdriver or plastic mallet. It may sound hollow and also listen carefully for clicking sounds which are the response made by alarmed ants.

The recommended solution to a Carpenter Ant problem is to locate and eliminate the nest. At this time, there are no nontoxic control methods that will accomplish this.

Professionals are trained to find the nests, which commonly occur in wall and ceiling voids where moisture problems exist – they provide one time initial clean-outs and ongoing preventive maintenance programs to keep carpenter ants from returning and destroying the value of your home.

Griggs & Browne is a professional pest control company with offices in:
Providence, RI // 1-800-924-8886, Waterford, CT // 1-800-962-3296
Abington, MA // 1-800-244-1012, Buzzards Bay, MA // 1-800-339-2212
As them about carpenter ant clean-out and maintenance programs to keep them from returning . www.griggsbrowne.com