Carpenter ants can be unassuming as individuals, but a colony in your home or cottage would be cause for serious concern.
Attracted to moist and decayed wood, carpenter ants are often found in areas of a building that have been exposed to leaks, condensation, or poor air circulation. They don’t eat wood; however, they can cause extensive damage as they remove wood to build galleries and tunnels. This removed wood is called frass.
“Damage done by carpenter ants can vary, however the longer a colony is present in a structure, the greater the risk,” explains Mike Sampson from Muskoka Pest Control. “If there is an abundance of ants in your building, it’s best to bring in a professional pest control team to assess the situation and provide a quality pest prevention plan.”
Carpenter ants can be found in many different areas, including around tubs, sinks, showers, and dishwashers, behind bathroom tiles, under roofing, in joists and trusses in the attic, in insulation, and in hollow spaces such as doors, curtain rods, and wall voids.
“They’re native to this area, and they’re found anywhere you have dead wood,” says Mike. “They are typically found in dead stumps and trees around your property, and this can lead to satellite colonies in nearby structures if suitable conditions are present.”
Among the largest ants in Muskoka, carpenter ants can range in size from three-eighths to half an inch. Workers from a colony are either black or red and black. They feed on sources of protein and sugar, including living and dead insects.
Carpenter ants are active from spring thaw until freeze-up, foraging at night – particularly between sunset and midnight – during spring and summer months. Sometimes workers travel up to 100 yards from a nest in search of food.
“The best method to control carpenter ants is to have an annual treatment plan, replace damaged or decayed wood, and eliminate moisture problems,” says Mike.
In addition to carpenter ants, Muskoka Pest Control keeps buildings free from mice, spiders, wasps and hornets, bedbugs, fleas and more.
Regardless of the pest, preventing the problem is the best solution. A cottage maintenance contract ensures that a professional pest control expert is regularly looking for potential problems.
“It’s always easier, cheaper, and faster to deal with problems when they’re just getting started,” says Mike.
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI | PHOTOS SCOTT TURNBULL
