Everything has a season, right? Well, it depends on where you live. Up north, states experience a very distinct change in seasons: leaves changing color and falling from trees, temperatures dropping, eventually snow accumulating. As we all know, seasons are very different here in Lewisville, Texas. We don’t really get snow or a drastic change in temperatures. What we do get is a never-ending carpenter ant season.
Carpenter Ant Necessities
Carpenter ants need a few things to survive: food, shelter, and warmth. We have already established that there is plenty of warmth here in Texas for these six-legged wood destroyers to thrive on, so let’s talk about where they hide, and the foods they will consume. A common misconception is that carpenter ants eat the wood they tunnel through. The truth is that they only tunnel through wood to create protected nests. The food they eat is commonly found outside their nests and consists of honeydew, meats, fats, and sweet foods such as syrup, jelly, and honey. As long as carpenter ants have these basic necessities, they will never truly go away.
Location, Location, Location
Did you know that carpenter ants are particular about their wood? They will not just infest the first piece of wood available, but instead look for water-damaged or rotting wood to build their nests in. As long as the wood of your home is well kept and dry, carpenter ants will most likely pass you by this fall and winter. However, if you have leaks or water build up damaging the wood of your home--more destruction may be on its way.
How to Keep Carpenter Ants at Bay
First things first, let’s take a look around for what may be attracting them. Examine the exterior of your home for soft water-damaged wood, or any leaks or water sources that may be deteriorating the condition of your wood. To deter carpenter ants, remove water sources from touching the wood of your home. Then consider having any leaks fixed, and repair or replace areas of water-damaged wood. Also, while looking for water-damaged wood, keep an eye out for any cracks or holes around the exterior of your home that ants could use to get inside. Seal these off using a caulking gun. After you have addressed potential entry points, take a few steps back and trim back the vegetation that touches the exterior of your home, this will better allow your walls to dry after storms. Finally, eliminate food sources surrounding your home that could be inviting ants and other pests in. Be careful not to leave pet food outside for extended periods of time, and clean up well after barbecues.
The Benefits of Professional Control
When it comes to carpenter ants, DIY tips, though helpful, will only get you so far, especially if you already have carpenter ants hiding in the walls of your home. This is why it is so important to have the professionals here at Adams Exterminating help. Not only can Adams make sure your home is ant free, but we can make sure it remains that way. If this interests you, grab your phone and give Adams a call to schedule an inspection today!