Carpenter ants are a pest that is attracted to moisture or water-damaged wood. They will chew through the wood and use the holes to nest inside. They do not eat the wood, but they will chew through it. Carpenter ants are larger black ants, usually spotted on trees or around wood piles. Some signs to watch out for that may indicate that you have carpenter ants includes seeing living ants, dead ants, sawdust piles, or holes in your wood where these pests have made tunnels through it. If you suspect you have carpenter ants, you need to start treatment to get rid of them. Read on for some helpful information to guide you in exterminating these pests.
Replace Damaged Wood
You should replace wood that has been damaged by these pests. Remove the wood and burn it to kill any of the pests still inside. Simply removing the wood and tossing it outside only allows the pests to escape and possibly come back into your home. You need to remove the wood that is damaged by either these pests or damaged by moisture to prevent getting another infestation of these pests.
Repair Moisture Issues
Where you have had moisture-damaged wood, you have had a leak of some sort or some other type of moisture or water damage. You need to repair whatever has caused this damage in the first place to prevent pest issues from wreaking havoc on your home again. Moisture damage can lead to other pests, not just carpenter ants, including silverfish, termites, and other pests as well.
Set Ant Traps
Set traps to capture and exterminate these pests. There are special traps that contain toxic bait inside to kill these pests when ingested by the pests. You can find the ant traps at your local hardware store, or wherever pest control products are sold. Use the traps according to the manufacturer's instructions and replace the traps often to capture more ants. Move the traps around your home to continue to trap these pests.
If you have seen signs of carpenter ants, you need to take the right steps to exterminate them. Hiring a professional pest control specialist is one of the most important steps you should take in order to help get control of this pest issue. They can also offer tips or instructions on how to prevent this pest problem in the future.
For more information, contact a local company like San Juan Pest Control.