Carpenter ants are a threat to all Tupelo homeowners and shouldn't be something you ignore. They don't typically cause noticeable damage on the surface, so you aren't likely to even know they are damaging your home until the damage is advanced. Uncovering their presence can be challenging. Carpenter ants prefer to attack wood softened by fungus, so homeowners should watch for soft, rotting wood and excess moisture around the home. However, if you notice signs of carpenter ant activity, it's time to take action and contact a Tupelo pest control professional.
How To Identify A Carpenter Ant
Protecting your home from carpenter ants and the damage they cause is essential. Therefore, correctly identifying the pest is a must. Carpenter ants in Tupelo are generally black, red, or a combination of the two. They can grow up to 1/2 an inch in length. Most carpenter ants attack wood that is wet or damaged by mold. Even though carpenter ants first invade damp, decayed, or moisture-damaged wood, they may later begin excavating tunnels through dry, undamaged wood.
Carpenter ants usually enter your home through windows, cracks around doors, or spaces where utilities enter the building. They will also crawl along shrubs, overhead wires, or tree limbs that touch the building above the ground. One of the ways you might recognize a carpenter ant infestation is by witnessing a swarm. These swarms are when reproductive ants take flight to reproduce and start new colonies. Tupelo homeowners should be concerned at first sight of a winged ant, which indicates that these ants live in or near your house.
The Multiple Problems Carpenter Ants Create In A Home
Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat wood; instead, they tunnel through it to create galleries and establish colonies. If these destructive pests are chewing away inside your walls, you may find sawdust stuck to the wall or on the floor. This sawdust often has dead insect parts, pieces of insulation and sheetrock, carpenter ant excrement, or other building materials. When carpenter ants chew galleries and tunnels inside the wood of a home, it can lead to:
- Dipping or uneven floors.
- Holes in the framing of windows and doors.
- Floors bulge out as if they have water damage.
- Doors and windows that stick.
- The weakening of support structures and warping of your home's frame.
- Drooping ceilings.
- Damaged siding.
Even if you see one carpenter ant, this should prompt you to call an ant control professional. It is never a good idea to allow property-damaging pests to go untreated. Generally speaking, carpenter ant damage occurs slowly, often taking years before the problems are noticeable. However, depending on the nest's location, you may notice carpenter ant damage in months. You might realize there's a carpenter ant infestation when your windows and doors are sticking and hard to open, your floors are dipping or feel spongy when you walk on them, and your walls are starting to bulge.
Call The Professionals At The First Sign Of Carpenter Ants
The experienced staff of technicians with McCary Pest Control has been creating positive outcomes for home and business owners in this region struggling with unwanted pests. Our team of local experts knows the signs of carpenter ants in your house, what causes carpenter ants, and how to get rid of carpenter ants. In addition to ants, we are trained and adequately equipped to oust infestations associated with cockroaches, termites, bed bugs, and other pests that may damage property and create health risks.
We will conduct a detailed inspection of the premises, inside and outside, to detect the presence of pests and the extent of the infestation. Contact us today at McCary Pest Control to schedule a free inspection and get started on our effective residential and commercial pest control services in Tupelo.
Naturally Effective Tips To Prevent Future Carpenter Ants
Luckily, as a Tupelo homeowner, some prevention tips can help curb future carpenter ant infestations. These include:
- Keeping food stored in airtight containers.
- Covering both indoor and outdoor trash cans with tight-fitting lids.
- Eliminating excess moisture by fixing leaks and maintaining drainage systems.
- Repairing or replacing wet or damaged wood.
- Sealing cracks and crevices in your home's foundation and exterior walls.
- Installing weatherstripping and door sweeps.
While the above carpenter ant prevention tips are excellent preventatives, when you already have an infestation, you likely need the expertise of the pest control professionals at McCary Pest Control. Call us now to get carpenter ants out of your home. Remember to request a free inspection today.