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Carpenter Ants: A Guide To Identification And Control For Collegeville Homeowners

Serving Families Throughout Collegeville
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Ants are usually thought of as kitchen or picnic pests, but carpenter ants are different. In addition to getting into your food, they get into your walls. This can cause many problems for your home, which is why it’s important that carpenter ant infestations are controlled quickly and effectively. Terra Pest Management Specialists are the go-to source for Collegeville pest control. We can get rid of carpenter ants from your Collegeville home and keep your home pest-free and your family safe from pesticides and harmful products. Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options. 

How To Identify A Carpenter Ant Infestation

Ant species in Collegeville tend to look pretty similar to each other. Carpenter ants fit the usual description – small bodies, three segments, antennae – but tend to be a little bigger than other ants. Carpenter ants can be up to half an inch long. They can be red, black, brown, or a combination of black and red. 

Carpenter ants chew through wood to make their nests. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat the wood. They just hollow it out and live inside. Besides seeing the ants themselves, signs of carpenter ants in your house include damage to wooden structures. You may see small holes in the surfaces of wood and small piles of wood shavings near those holes. Sometimes, carpenter ants can be heard chewing their way through walls or other wooden spaces. 

Carpenter Ants Can Create Multiple Problems In A Home

Unlike other ant species, carpenter ants don’t typically infest human food storages. Instead, they eat dead insects or plant nectar. This means that the biggest concern with a carpenter ant infestation is property damage, not food contamination. 

Carpenter ants chew through wood, creating “galleries” with smooth walls. These hollow spaces are where they form their nests. Over time, this damage can cause more serious problems for your home, even leading to structural issues. Because carpenter ant damage can be severe if an infestation isn’t treated, it’s important that carpenter ant infestations are caught as soon as possible. 

Effective Carpenter Ant Prevention Tip

The good news is that there are a few ways you can prevent carpenter ants from moving into your home. These prevention tips center on making it harder for carpenter ants to get inside.

  • Fix anything causing excess moisture in your home.
  • Seal cracks and holes in the walls.
  • Keep tree branches and bushes trimmed back from the house.
  • Store firewood and building materials several feet from your home.
  • Replace softened or water-damaged wood in your house.

The less-good news is that these tricks are good for keeping ants out, not for getting rid of them when they’re already inside. But with Terra Pest Management Specialists, you can get rid of carpenter ants for good.

The Most Effective Way To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants

Working with Terra Pest Management Specialists is the best way to keep carpenter ants out of your home. All of our products are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency and proven safe for home use. We avoid pesticides as much as possible, so your family stays safe and healthy as your home becomes pest-free. Our treatments involve a multi-step plan, beginning with a thorough inspection. We then apply a sprayed liquid barrier and a granular bait, each of which are highly focused treatments. This ensures that only the carpenter ants are removed, not any other plants, animals, or insects. 

Carpenter ants can cause serious problems for Collegeville homes. The key to protecting your home is early treatment. If you’re seeing signs of carpenter ants around your home, call Terra Pest Management Specialists as soon as possible. We’ll get the job done and make sure the carpenter ants don’t come back. 

Our certified pest experts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs. Simply fill out this form for a free, no-obligation estimate.