CARPENTER ANT
EXTERMINATION OF THE CARPENTER ANT
Carpenter ants have a well-established hierarchical order (queen, workers and warriors). Contrary to preconceived ideas, carpenter ants do not eat wood, they dig galleries and cause damage in your homes. They can lodge in wall cavities, in the attic or in insulating materials. As carpenter ant colonies grow, they can attack sound wood. You can’t miss their appearance in your homes because of their size.
DATA SHEET OF CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ants are part of the formicidae family of the order Hymenoptera. There are 5 types of carpenter ants in Quebec which are generally black with sometimes some shades of red. We distinguish it clearly from other types of ants by its impressive size. Generally, those you can see in your homes are the workers who are the largest of the hierarchy.
Surprisingly, the queen carpenter ant can live for 17 years while the workers can live for 7 years! As for their reproduction, the queen lays about 10 eggs per year and the eggs hatch after about 60 days. The ant farm reaches 2000 ants in 3 years! Carpenter ants like places where there is damp or rotting wood, the forest and your houses for the comfort it brings them. Don’t think that they will get tired of your home and leave on their own. Your houses bring them warmth and food, all they need for their survival.
WHAT ARE CARPENTER ANTS GOOD FOR?
The only benefit of having carpenter ants is that they eat both live and dead insects so they get rid of other pests. Unfortunately, they also do a lot of damage.
DID YOU KNOW THAT?
Carpenter ants can bite if they are handled or feel a threat to their safety.
HOW TO PREVENT CARPENTER ANTS?
Make sure your eavestroughs are empty of all foliage and tree branches because wet wood, combined with rainwater, attracts them. If you have firewood, do not string it against the outside walls of your house, put it away from your house. Check for cracks on the outside of your house. If you have cedar trees or hedges near your home, make sure the branches do not touch your home. Remember that carpenter ants love mulch because it retains moisture and becomes a comfortable place for carpenter ants to breed. Caulk your windows and doors well. Keep in mind that carpenter ants are attracted to moisture so pay attention to water infiltration in your home. Keep your food in airtight containers at all times. Avoid leaving food on your kitchen counters.
HOW TO DETECT A SIGN OF THEIR PRESENCE?
Carpenter ants will most often be found in areas where wood structures are soiled or moldy. You may also find sawdust that carpenter ants have moved to create galleries. Sometimes the felling of a tree or the repair of a balcony can explain their appearance.
