09 Aug Are Carpenter Ants Dangerous?
There are many people living in the greater Texas area who are familiar with carpenter ants. These large ants are common throughout the country, particularly near wooded areas. However, while carpenter ants may be relatively harmless in small doses, they actually can cause serious structural damage, particularly in large numbers.
This is why it is so important to be on the lookout for carpenter ants and know what to do if you spot these pests in your home.
What Do They Look Like?
Carpenter ants are large and either all black, all red, or black and red. They can reach a size of ½ inch long, depending on the species. Typically, if you see carpenter ants in the house, they are the large black variety.
These ants typically only find their way into your home to find food. Even if you see a number of ants, it is most likely a satellite colony that is in there because it is warm and near food—they likely have a full colony somewhere nearby outside of your property.
What Type of Harm Do Carpenter Ants Cause?
Carpenter ants do bite, but they rarely ever bite humans. The good news is these ants are not venomous. When they do bite, these ants will not cause any damage. Carpenter ants also do not spread diseases or infections.
However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be harmful. They cause more harm to wood and are known to cause structural damage. In short, your home is at more of a risk than you are.
How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?
Unfortunately, getting rid of carpenter ants is very difficult. In order to treat these pests, you not only need to eliminate that satellite colony that is in your home but the primary colony that is located outside your property.
This is why the best way to treat a carpenter ant issue is to call a pest control professional. The right professional will know where to look for the different colonies and make sure that these colonies are treated and eradicated properly so they don’t return.
If you have any other pest-related questions, particularly about Carpenter ants, contact the experts at Proctor Pest Control. We can help not only treat your home and eliminate active Carpenter ants but to make sure that they don’t come back in the fall. Just contact us today to make certain your home stays ant-free!