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• Carpenter ants are one of the most common problems in Massachusetts. Carpenter ants may be black, brown, or red, and up to 3/4 of an inch in length. They are often confused with termites are are considered one of the most difficult pests to control.

• Carpenter ants, like termites, produce winged reproductives called swarmers. One way to tell the two apart is ant swarmers have a pinched waist and pairs of wings that are unequal in length. Ant swarmers do not drop their wings. Termite swarmers drop their wings a short time after emerging. Seeing a number of any kind of winged ant inside the home is the sign of a problem. An ant colony does not start producing swarmers (young queens and males) until it contains 2,000 or more workers. It may take from 3 to 6 years to reach this stage. Observing carpenter ant swarmers in the home is usually the sign of a mature colony nearby.

• Carpenter ants are attracted to moisture. They are almost always found nesting near a damp area but often continue into sound wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat and digest wood wood but rather excavate galleries and live in wood. Carpenter ants push the sawdust (called frass) out of the wood as they work to create galleries to live in.

• Carpenter ants are most active at sunrise and sunset  as they are nocturnal but may be seen during the day foraging in large numbers. Carpenter ants feed primarily on sugar solutions from honeydew producing insects like aphids, tree sap, plant juices, and on sweets and juices from insects they capture.

• Carpenter ants are one of the few types of ants where adult workers can vary in size. A lot of home owners only huge ants or ants with wings are carpenter ants.

• Carpenter ants may sometimes be able to be heard nesting behind walls. The sound has been described as aluminum foil crinkling or rice krispies popping. This is rare and shouldn't be relied on as an inspection technique.

• Seeing an ant or two during the first warm weeks of the year is not always the sign of a problem however seeing regular ongoing activity, winged ants, sawdust or trails of ants are likely the signs of a problem that need treatment. Typically carpenter ants have a parent colony nesting outside in live or dead trees, landscaping timbers, firewood piles etc. When the colony grows large and needs room to expand smaller nests called satellite nests are set up. As many as 20 satellite nests can be associated with one main colony that contains the queen. Satellite nests are usually set up in nearby structures because the heated protective structures are more conducive for the older stages of ants. It is not uncommon for a house to have several satellite nests inside.

   

  American Pest Control of Massachusetts offers one time calls as well as service plan. We will design a plan to treat your home specifically. Call us today to schedule an inspection or a treatment. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

  508-528-8269