I Think I Have Carpenter Ants, What Should I Do?
Did you know, there are over seventeen different ant species in Florida that are considered household pests, according to the University of Florida – Fort Lauderdale. Each of these ant species has its own food preference and behavior pattern, and they all require a different treatment method.
Carpenter Ants are among the largest of the ant species and one of the most seen in South Florida. They infest both interior and exterior environments around homes and other structures and are mostly active at dawn and dusk. Their appearance consists of a single reddish or black body, with a single node between its abdomen and thorax. They range in color: black, brown, and red, orange and are typically 1/4 – 3/4 inches long. If spotted anywhere inside your home, it is time to be worried about carpenter ants.
Carpenter ants typically choose your walls to damage and that is a warning sign you should act on. These ants prefer to nest in wood, preferably dead and or moist wood, inside galleries they develop by chewing their way through the wood. This nesting process is what leads to costly repairs for South Florida homeowners.
How to Defend Your Home from Carpenter Ants
The best way to protect yourself, your property and your perimeter from these annoying pests is to:
- Remove old tree stumps and broken limps inside hedges.
- Replaced old or damaged wood and wood trim around the structure of the home.
- Eliminate damp conditions and poor drainage problems that can lead to wood damage.
- Trim tree branches and shrubs away from all permanent structures.
- Remove fallen leaves and compost piles near structures and mulch.
- Thoroughly clean areas where food is managed in a timely manner
(including food left over from dogs, cats, and other pets).
- Make sure all wall voids are covered and sealed and that no standing water is near structures. (Ants can fit through extremely small openings to gain access into a home or building.)
Your property is one of the largest investments you will make and protecting that investment from any type of pests, including carpenter ants and other wood-destroying organisms with the professionals should be top priority.
Contact Florida Pest Control Center for a free quote on all ant pest control services. When ants get inside your home or business, our professional team has the knowledge and equipment to eliminate the problem. Let us inspect the area and determine the best strategy to eradicate the pests and protect your home or business from future infestations. Call us today at 954-945-5050.
Florida Pest Control Center (FPCC) employs comprehensive, state-of-the art technologies, chemical, and non-chemical treatments to eliminate pest problems in residential homes, businesses, hospitals, medical facilities, group homes, and apartment and condominium buildings. Our highly trained professionals provide a fast, complete solution to your termites, ants, mosquitoes, termites, bed bugs, rodents, and other pest infestations.
Safe. We use the safest treatments available.
Easy. We make it as easy as we can on you and your family.
Effective. Our treatments will effectively remove bed bugs from your home.
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