When I moved into my current home, I almost immediately noticed the roaches. While the place wasn’t overrun with them, I saw them far too often. For a few years, my husband and I tried almost every anti-roach product available on the market. We would enjoy success for a short duration. However, the roaches always came back. Then, a wonderful thing happened. We hired a pest control company to spray our home for termites. As a bonus, the chemicals used to prevent termites got rid of our roach issue. If you want to protect your family from harmful roaches, contact a local pest control entity today. On this blog, you will learn how to rid your home of roaches for good with the help of a pest control specialist.
Protect Your Family
3 Fast Facts About Carpenter Ants
Jennie Lucas
From cockroaches and mice to bats and fire ants, the various pests that affect your home and family's life may seem overwhelming. While some pests are merely annoying, others can damage your home while harming your health. Carpenter ants are one of these pests--even though many homeowners believe they are harmless. This guide will teach you a few things you have to learn about carpenter ants.
Familiar Look
There are many species of ants that can be found in one given area. Distinguishing between each type can help you protect your home and your health.
One of the first things you should learn is that black carpenter ants are the largest of all ant species. Individual worker carpenter ants can range from 1/4 to 5/8 inch in length.
In most cases, they are completely black in color. However, there are smaller carpenter ants that have a reddish hue.
Wood Is Important
Another interesting fact you should know is that carpenter ants will infiltrate the wood in and around your home. While termites feed and live in all types of wood, carpenter ants do not consume wood but will nest in damp, rooting wood.
Here are a few signs you have an infestation of carpenter ants:
- Wood shavings
- Lighting rustling or shaking inside walls or wood items
- Ants crawling or flying out of buildings/holes/crevices
If you are noticing one or more of these signs, consult a pest control professional to determine the best course of treatment for your home and health. Carpenter ants may not cause as much damage to your home as termites, but eradicating the infestation and repairing any damage to your wood can be costly.
They Bite
In addition to how they can damage your home, carpenter ants are also know to bite humans if they feel threatened. When they do bite, these ants release an acidic solution that can be rather painful. While not necessarily life-threatening to the average person, the bite and injected acid can pose severe problems if you are allergic to insect stings.
Help Is Available
If you do have carpenter ants, spraying nests with a pesticide is key. Professionals may also recommend spraying a pesticide along the perimeter of your home and to any cracks or holes in your walls and foundation.
Prevention is your best weapon, though. Make sure to remove any wood debris that sits around your home, since it is most likely attracting carpenter ants and other pests.
Also, use caulk or sealant to close up any holes, cracks, or crevices in your home's exterior siding and foundation.
Understanding carpenter ants is smart for protecting your home and family. This guide will teach you a few basic things you need to learn about these problematic insects. If you're looking for help with your carpenter ants or other pests, contact Affordable Pest Control Inc or another pest control company.
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