Carpenter Ants

Our Baltimore Carpenter Ant Control – What You Need To Know!

The carpenter ant is slightly larger than many other ant species, including crazy ant, winter ant, big-headed ant, winnow ant, honey ant, ant biology, thief ant, acrobat ant, and little black ant. All ant species are social insects, meaning they work, travel, and live in large colonies. The tri-segmented body ranges between reddish/brown, black, and dark brown. The worker adult grows up to 0.5 inches long while the queen is slightly larger at 5/8 inches long.

Most Baltimore carpenter ant sightings are outdoors along driveways, pathways, and walkways. Indoor sightings include the kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and pantries. The insect utilizes its powerful mandibles to ravage non-refrigerated food stored in vulnerable packagings, such as plastic sacks and paperboard.

To make way for underground tunnels and nests, the carpenter ant also utilizes its mandibles to gnaw through decaying wood. The ants do not ingest the shredded wood, which is called “frass.” Frass trails lead from the damaged wood to the colony or others areas.

What Are The Most Common Carpenter Ant Infestation Signs?

• Visible Live Insects – Live carpenter ants foraging for food on countertops, floors, stovetops, dining tables, and garbage cans
• “Frass” Trails – Carpenter ants gnaw through damaged wooden structures to make way for underground tunnels. The byproduct of the gnawing is called “frass”
• Audible Sound – A large volume of ants working can be heard through walls. Witnesses describe the sound as “rustling”
• Swarming Insects – Swarmer carpenter ants flying low over contaminated countertops and stovetops, swooping down periodically to pick up crumbs

Why Is My Baltimore Home Infested With Carpenter Ants?

Carpenter ants are drawn to rotting wood and wood structures, such as fence posts, decks, porches, tree stumps, and sheds. The insect utilizes its odor receptors to locate food. In their natural habitat, the carpenter ant diet consists of dead insects, aphids, spiders, butterflies, caterpillars, centipedes, and termites. After a home infiltration, the carpenter ant’s diet changes significantly, transitioning from insects to processed food like cookies, crackers, and dry cereal.

If your processed and dry food is not stored in durable containers, it will become a carpenter ant food. They invade homes through tiny gaps, holes, and cracks around foundations, basement vents, entrance door thresholds, and windows.

Do Carpenter Ant Infestations Pose A Health Risk To Small Children?

The good news, carpenter ants do not transmit diseases and parasites to children, teens, or adults. But, you are not off the hook because the insect has been linked to contaminated foodborne illnesses. Carpenter ants ingest contaminated food that is later deposited as fecal material on countertops, stovetops, dining tables, and food. Household members who ingest the contaminated food begin exhibiting foodborne illness symptoms – stomach pain and cramps, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever.

What Pest Control Strategy Works Pest For Carpenter Ant Infestations?

Carpenter ant infestations oftentimes consist of two colonies – main and satellite. Dealing with two separate colonies of carpenter ants requires a strategic pest control strategy. Victims of carpenter ant infestations have two pest control methods to choose from. These include professional and DIY, with the former being an industrial-strength formula while the latter is a low-strength formula. Which option do you believe would offer the highest level of effectiveness for carpenter ant infestations?

Are DIY Pesticide Formulas Strong Enough To Fully Eradicate A Carpenter Ant Infestation?

No, DIY pesticides are over-the-counter conventional formulas that are low-strength. Several treatments may eradicate a handful of carpenter ants but will not have much impact on a full-blown pest infestation.

Homemade pesticides are not recommended for carpenter ant infestations. These formulas are lacking the strength to eradicate a colony of pests like carpenter ants. Professional pest control products are more suitable for full-blown pest infestations.

When Will The Exterminator Arrive At My Baltimore Home to Perform The Carpenter Ant Inspection?

We need at least 24 hours to process your carpenter ant inspection service request. Our customer support team can have your process completed no longer than 48 hours. If you are in need of emergency pest control, do not hesitate to inquire about our same-day or emergency services.

Does Professional Pest Control Pose Environmental Risks?

No, when administered, handled, stored, and transported per the manufacturer’s recommendations, there is no environmental risk. We take pesticide safety seriously by joining forces with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This federal government agency is responsible for overseeing the production and sale of pesticides.

How Can I Protect My Baltimore Home And Family From A Repeat Carpenter Ant Infestation?

Carpenter ant infestations are extremely difficult to prevent. This is especially true for homes that have already been infiltrated by these insects. We highly recommend a few alterations in your household waste disposal and non-refrigerated and processed food storage systems. It is crucial to remove all food sources, rotting wood, and access points that lead from the outside to the inside of your home.

It is generally not that difficult once you make the recommended aforementioned changes. However, all household members must be on board to make the strategy work. We will work with you and your family to ensure your home is never infested with carpenter ants in the future.

Our professional pest control combines routine visual inspections with a custom treatment utilizing industrial-strength pesticides. We offer several pesticide formulas – organic, chemical-based, natural, and eco-friendly, all of which are recommended for carpenter ants.

To learn more about our professional pest management, do not hesitate to reach out to our Baltimore exterminators.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.