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Carpenter Ant against a white background - Keep Carpenter ants away from your home with General Pest Control in Middleburg Heights

Carpenter Ant

Actual Size: ⅝”

Characteristics: Red, black, or a combination of both with strong mandibles.

Legs: 6

Antennae: Yes

Wings: Carpenter ant swarmers possess two pairs of wings.

Habitat: Favor damp, moist wood for nest-building, often choosing hollow trees, logs, posts, landscaping timbers, and wood in homes and other structures.

Habits:

  • Carpenter ants are wood-damaging pests that are regularly confused with termites. 
  • Indoor nests are usually hidden in wall voids, making them difficult to find. 
  • They tunnel into wood to expand an area for nesting, not to feed. 
  • Can tolerate severe environmental conditions, including sub-zero winters.


Carpenter Ants in Cleveland

Carpenter ants are quite common in Cleveland, especially in communities with lots of mature trees and extensive exterior landscaping. They are named for their ability to excavate wood, crafting extensive tunnels and galleries for their nests. These ants are well-known for invading homes in search of food, moisture, warmth, and shelter. Much like termites, they are wood-destroying pests that damage the structural integrity of buildings by boring through wood for nesting. Unlike termites, carpenter ants tunnel into wood to expand an area for their nests, not to feed. Their destructive actions progressively weaken wood, leaving solid structures as hollow shells.

Carpenter Ant Habitat

Carpenter ants are attracted to moisture and can establish nests in various locations both inside and outside homes or structures, typically near damp, decaying wood. In homes and buildings, the primary nest is often outside in a tree, stump, or pile of firewood. Nests are more frequently found in wood affected by water leaks, such as attic rafters, roof overhangs, wall voids, hollow doors or columns, crawl spaces, and behind dishwashers. Indoor carpenter ant infestations are always linked to moisture problems in homes or businesses. While some carpenter ant workers are active during the day, the majority of their activity occurs at night, from dusk till dawn, peaking between 10 PM and 2 AM.

Carpenter Ant Behaviors, Threats, or Dangers

Homeowners face a serious threat from carpenter ants. They rarely bite and are not generally deemed dangerous, but their tunneling activity damages the structural integrity of homes and businesses. The extent and potential damage to a home depends on how many nests are present within the structure, and how long the infestation has been active. Signs of infestation include tiny sawdust piles and faint rustling noises in walls. Although less dangerous than termites, unchecked carpenter ants can still systematically destroy homes and valuable wood belongings. Repairing cracks in your home’s foundation, replacing rotten window frames, removing dead tree stumps, and ventilating your attic and crawl spaces, are recommended to help prevent an infestation. Should you suspect an infestation of carpenter ants, the best course of action is to reach out to a professional ant exterminator.