CARPENTER ANTS
Carpenter ants are truly impressive in size, making them the largest of our common ants. While they chew through wood, leaving behind sawdust-like particles, they don’t actually eat the wood—they excavate it to build their nests. And be cautious around them—carpenter ants can deliver a nasty bite if provoked!
What does our professional service do?
Many homeowners attempt to eliminate carpenter ants using store-bought pesticides, but these methods often fall short. Carpenter ants are resilient pests, much stronger and more challenging to eradicate than other ant species. Worse, they often establish satellite colonies in hidden spaces, making surface-level treatments with liquid pesticides ineffective. While these DIY methods might provide temporary relief, they fail to address the root of the problem and offer no long-term solution.
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When you contact us, you’re choosing a professional pest control service designed to deliver lasting results. Our team is equipped with the expertise and tools needed to locate and eliminate carpenter ant colonies—both primary and satellite—for good. Say goodbye to your infestation with confidence, knowing we provide a solution that works long-term.
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Reproductive cycle
The process of colony establishment begins when the carpenter ant founder queen lays 20-30 eggs, which she nurtures until they pupate. Workers emerge from these pupae and take over the tasks of caring for the queen, excavating the nest, and tending to the newly laid eggs. A second egg-laying period typically occurs in mid-summer. Initially, all workers are minor workers, with heads and mandibles proportional to their body size. These minor workers are responsible for caring for the eggs, larvae, pupae, and the queen.
As the colony matures, some pupae develop into major workers with larger heads and mandibles, specifically tasked with defending the colony. Over the course of 3 to 6 years, the colony grows, and it can eventually host 3,000 or more ants. A fully mature colony may produce as many as 400 alates—winged reproductive ants—that swarm from the nest each spring or fall to establish new colonies.
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Habitat
In buildings, carpenter ants typically nest in moist or slightly humid areas. Common nesting sites include paneled doors, wood cabinets near dishwashers, damp locations behind baseboards, fireplaces, and window frames. They may also establish nests in untreated materials such as polystyrene insulation, fiberglass, and other types of insulation that have not been treated to resist pest infestations.
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Diet
Carpenter ants feed on a wide variety of insects, plant materials, and occasionally household foodstuffs.