Carpenter Ants and their Control

Carpenter Ants are an important wood-destroying pest in Warren County and all of Pennsylvania. In fact, the taxonomical name for the black carpenter ant, which is the most common carpenter ant specie in Pennsylvania (and one of the most destructive) is Camponotus pennsylvanicus.

Untreated carpenter ant infestations can cause serious damage to homes and other wooden buildings over time. This potential for damage, as well as the fact that carpenter ants can be challenging to control, make carpenter ant extermination a job for professionals.

Carpenter Ant Biology

The carpenter ants we see in Pennsylvania usually are black in color and are relatively large, with adults averaging about half an inch in length. Some variation in size and color is possible, however. They have elbowed antennae and enlarged mandibles, that are adapted to excavating wood.

Carpenter ants belong to the order Hymenoptera and are highly social insects, living in large colonies with a clear division of labor. A mature black carpenter ant colony can consist of as many as 20,000 members.

Carpenter ants prefer moisture damaged wood to build their nests and will often infest areas such as roof soffits, voids behind door and window frames, wood in contact with the soil, or wood in areas with high moisture levels (crawl spaces, cellars, bathrooms, etc.).

Carpenter Ant Damage

Unlike termites and some wood-destroying beetles, carpenter ants don't derive any nutrition from wood because they don't actually eat it. They just excavate galleries in the wood and establish colonies in those galleries.

Nonetheless, over time carpenter ants can cause significant and costly damage to wooden structures, as shown in the picture to the right. To prevent carpenter ant damage from becoming severe, it's important to have a suspected carpenter ant infestation inspected by a qualified pest control professional as soon as possible.

Carpenter Ant Control

Carpenter ants are very resourceful and adaptive, and this is reflected in the wide variety of places where they build their nests. Because of this, every carpenter ant job is different, and carpenter ant extermination may include any or all of the following methods:

• Correction of conducive conditions (moisture problems, overhanging tree branches, etc.)
• Liquid insecticides
• Carpenter ant baits or granular insecticides
• Injection of dusts or other insecticides into structural voids or timbers
• Treatment of tree stumps or other nesting areas outside of the house itself

The exact methods used will depend on the job itself, and your technician will be happy to explain what methods are best for your home, and why.

For a professional carpenter ant inspection and treatment estimate, please contact us.