Pest control in Dallas is not complete if you aren't protecting your home against carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are wood-eating insects that can cause a lot of trouble for your Dallas property. There are several types of carpenter ants; in fact, there are more than a dozen carpenter ant species in the state of Texas alone. The carpenter ants you are likely to see in and around your home are large and black and have large mandibles.
Where Are Typical Carpenter Ant Nesting Sites?
If you spot carpenter ants in your home, then you may be wondering where the ants live. Carpenter ants live in nests that number in the thousands, headed by a queen. Outdoors, carpenter ants build their nests in tree stumps, logs, and fence posts.
If carpenter ants move into your home, they will first target wet or damaged wood. Despite the common misconception, carpenter ants do not eat the wood they damage. Instead, carpenter ants chew through wood to create their nests and tunnels for travel.
Is It Possible To Hear Carpenter Ants Chewing A Wall?
Although rare, it is possible to hear a soft rustling coming from within your walls if they are infested with carpenter ants. In order to hear the rustling, the infestation must be quite advanced. More common signs of carpenter ants are carpenter ant sightings and small openings on the surface of the wood.
Additionally, you may find shed wings around the property. Every year, the queen births ants that, when fully grown, are capable of reproducing. These carpenter ants will have wings, unlike their sterile counterparts. Once the weather is warm enough, the winged reproductive ants will emerge in a mating dance known as swarming. After mating, the males die and the females shed their wings before starting a new colony of their own. Seeing carpenter ants swarm or seeing the shed wings of the female carpenter ants is a red flag that an infestation is underway.
What Not To Do About Carpenter Ant Damage
In order to keep carpenter ants away from your Dallas property, homeowners should treat their wood to avoid water damage. Furthermore, store firewood at least 20 feet from the side of the house, avoid standing water in and around the property, and keep vegetation trimmed back.
If you are already noticing signs of carpenter ants around your Dallas home, one thing you shouldn't do is ignore those signs. Ignoring carpenter ants will only allow the property damage they cause to worsen. Furthermore, simply killing the carpenter ants that you can see will not solve the infestation. Most of the carpenter ants will be hidden in the nest, including the queen who births new ants daily. The best way to deal with carpenter ants is to work with the professional pest control experts at Texas Star Pest & Termite.
Carpenter Ant Extermination In Dallas
To properly get rid of carpenter ants, Dallas property owners should team up with local pest control experts. Pest control experts like Texas Star Pest & Termite can ensure that your home is safely and efficiently treated for carpenter ants and any other pests that may be lurking. At Texas Star Pest & Termite, we have over 50 years of experience that allows us to expertly tackle any pest problem. During our inspection, we investigate any problem areas you have noticed and point out any additional areas where pests may have gained access to your home. We tailor our treatments to you and your property. Once complete, we offer a guarantee on all services so you can rest assured that your home is well protected. For peace of mind today, call Texas Star Pest & Termite!