Carpenter Ant Elimination: How to Know You Are Dealing with in Round Rock?

Carpenter ants are beneficial in wooded areas because play an important role in natural decomposition. However, they are not welcome in your house. These ant species are not the typical ground ants. They need wood to create nests and colonies. A lot of people think that these ants consume wood in foundations like termites. However, the truth is that carpenter ants do not feed on wood. Instead, they build tunnels through wooden structures. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not build mud tubes. But they leave tiny holes where they have chewed through. Round Rock, TX pest control is necessary when it comes to dealing with carpenter ants. When left untreated, these species can destroy the wooden items in your house. Learn more about these species below:

Nesting Habits of Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants got their name from their nest-building capabilities. They tend to have big colonies, so they need huge spaces for their nests. Did you know that a bigger group of these ants can have up to 50, 000 ants? in this colony, up to 20, 000 of them are worker ants. 

Ants are busy insects because they prefer to be active. Burrowing through the wood to build nests takes serious strength. Carpenter ants can carry 10-50 times their body weight. Also, they have powerful jaws that let them consume different varieties of food like meat, vegetables, fruits, sweet food like syrup and honey, and pet foods. 

Carpenter ants have unique nesting habits. They will construct two kinds of nests, one as a parent colony and the other as a satellite colony. The parent nest will be used by the queen and her workers. This is where the majority of action happens. There is only one queen in every colony. Meanwhile, the satellite colony is where the workers live. These workers will supervise the mature larvae and the pupae. 

Eating Habits

Again, carpenter ants only use wood to burrow through and build a nest, not to eat it. These species can be vultures and predators, regardless of their size. These pests can dine on dead insects, hunt for live ones, and kill them to eat. 

When inside your house, carpenter ants will dine on any table scraps they can find, anything from the trash, and crumbs. Thus, you must clean your kitchen regularly during swarming. Ants can get busy at night, so they can remain undetected for a long time. Once they find nourishment, they extract the fluids from it and take it back to the colony to feed the rest. 

Carpenter Ant Identification

Whenever you spot winged insects hovering around the windows, you may think they are termites. Ants and termites have similarities, but you can also easily tell them apart. While termites are clear in color, carpenter ants are black. 

Compared to other species of ants, carpenter ants are bigger. Their jaws are huge for their size, allowing them to chew through wood easily and kill other creatures for nourishment. Also, they can feast on flower nectar, particularly the peony. While these ants are not aggressive and do not sting, they can bite people when threatened. 

Infestation Signs

Carpenter ants are quite predictable. They frequent certain areas like the eaves, decks and patios, gutters, wood piles, tree stumps, and decaying wooden areas. If you have them in your house, you will spot sawdust in the infested area. While termites can also produce sawdust, you can tell the difference by looking at the bug. 

In addition, you may see wings lying around where the ants have shed them following their nuptial flight. Because a carpenter ant colony lasts for several years, they can be hiding in your house for a long time now. Eliminating these species may require different approaches.  A pest control expert will place baits in the infested area. When the ants discover the bait, they will take it back to the colon and share it with other members. This will kill everyone in the colony.