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Carpenter ant behaviors:
Black carpenter ants, which regularly plague structures in Canada, are small insects that live primarily outdoors but can easily enter homes to find food or establish satellite nests. These insects have a particular affinity for kitchens and dining areas. They can gain access to bathrooms, roofs, or basements by exploiting access points weakened by leaking pipes and moisture. They can also enter homes through tree branches or shrubs that touch exterior walls. Once inside, they can excavate nests in voids in walls, attics, insulation, or even crawl spaces. Although they can burrow through sound wood, they prefer soft wood that has been damaged by water and heat, whether inside or outside homes. If you are faced with a carpenter ant infestation, it is important to act quickly to limit the damage and prevent new nests.
Damage caused by carpenter ants inside houses:
Carpenter ants can cause considerable damage to a home's structure, including beams, trusses, supports, and foundations. They build sophisticated tunnel systems by burrowing into wood inside and outside homes, identifiable by piles of sawdust at the tunnel entrances and exits. Homeowners can spot the large, wingless worker ants foraging for food and returning to their colony to report their discovery. While the presence of worker ants does not necessarily indicate an infestation, it does indicate the possibility of an intrusion, as it reveals potential access points for these ant species.
What are carpenter ants attracted to?
Carpenter ants are particularly attracted to moisture and dead wood, which often leads them to invade homes and yards. To prevent an infestation of these insects, residents should regularly inspect their property for water leaks caused by damaged pipes or roofs and properly ventilate affected wooden structures. It is also recommended to reduce the amount of dead or rotting wood, logs, and tree trunks on the property, and to trim branches and shrubs that touch the house. Indoors, it is important to promptly clean up food spills and store food to avoid attracting carpenter ants. Finally, proper ventilation will reduce excessive moisture in the air and prevent carpenter ant infestations.
What do carpenter ants do in winter?
As a cold-blooded insect, carpenter ants adjust their body temperature based on their environment. In Canada's harsh winters, these ants are unable to generate enough heat to maintain their physical activity, so they hibernate in their nests until warmer temperatures return in the spring. While most carpenter ant colonies become dormant in the winter, especially when exposed to the elements, some indoor colonies can remain active year-round if they have a sufficient heat source.
Active carpenter ant colonies during the winter require a heat source near their nest. Voids in walls that are exposed to direct sunlight or warm air from heating systems often provide the heat needed to stimulate carpenter ant activity. Carpenter ants sheltering in heated indoor spaces often wait until night to emerge and search for moisture in areas such as bathtubs, dishwashers, sinks, and toilets. However, on sunny days, carpenter ants may explore other parts of the home. The presence of active carpenter ants in a home during the winter is a sign of an infestation.
To treat an active infestation, it is recommended to use effective products rather than mass-market products. In addition, the Online Exterminator can provide valuable advice and information through its call center and explanatory videos.