Most homeowners focus on termites when thinking about pest control in New Braunfels. However, many don’t realize carpenter ants also demand their attention. If you end up with a carpenter ant infestation, your home could suffer just as much damage as from a termite infestation. That’s why you need to keep an eye out for the signs of carpenter ants and take measures to prevent them from ruining your home.
Read on to discover how to identify a potential carpenter ant problem and how Gold Star Eliminators can remove these pests if they invade your property.
What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
One of the good things about carpenter ants in New Braunfels is they’re pretty easy to spot. They’re one of the larger ant species in our area, at around a quarter of an inch long, and are typically solid black. They also have huge, strong jaws meant for tearing wood. If you have carpenter ants in your house, you’ll likely see them as they forage for food or near spots where condensation might collect. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry areas are high-traffic places for these ants.
Seeing one big, black ant in your house is no reason to panic. It might just be a scout wandering in from outside. However, if you start to see black carpenter ants in your home regularly, you may have a problem.
Can Carpenter Ants Cause Extreme Structural Damag
Carpenter ants in New Braunfels can cause structural damage equal to that of termites. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood but simply tunnel through it—similar to how other ants burrow into the ground. This excavation of the wood of your home eventually leads to the weakening of its structural integrity.
Black carpenter ants in your home will harm your floor joists, wall framing, support beams, and any other wooden component of your house. This damage can lead to the full-on collapse of ceilings and roofs. The moment you suspect you have a carpenter ant infestation, you must take action right away.
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants can be tricky bugs to remove. Carpenter ant infestations are often complex and sprawl throughout the whole structure of your house. That makes it almost impossible for homeowners wielding DIY carpenter ant control solutions to get rid of these pests. DIY measures fail to penetrate a carpenter ant colony, and until every ant is eliminated, the infestation will remain.
Because of this, it is best to seek professional aid after spotting signs of carpenter ants. Help from a professional company not only guarantees the removal of every colony but also ensures your home will no longer suffer damage.
Keeping Carpenter Ants From Coming Back
There might not be a lot you can do to get rid of carpenter ants on your own once you have them, but you can prevent them from attacking your home. Prevention should be your first line of defense.
Here are the changes to make:
- Cover all trash cans at all times to avoid attracting ants.
- Keep pantry foods in airtight containers to mask smells.
- Make sure the wood in your home is hard and dry to make it harder to infest.
- Reduce contact between wood and your home’s siding (think mulch, branches, firewood, etc.).
If you end up with carpenter ants despite your best efforts, contact Gold Star Exterminators. We are the best pest control in New Braunfels, and our top-of-the-line ant control solutions can get rid of even the toughest infestation. Furthermore, our specialists can help you formulate a plan to keep ants gone for good. Don't delay and call today!