Identifying Carpenter Ants: Signs You Have a Carpenter Ant Problem

Did you know that there are over 10,000 species of ants in the world?

The good news for homeowners is that most of these species live in tropical zones like the rainforest. However, this doesn’t make you immune to home invasions.

Are you a clean person but still find ants in your home? If so, you may have a problem with carpenter ants.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about identifying carpenter ants and signs of an infestation.

Useful Background Information on Carpenter Ants Identification

Ants in house on the wall angle – ants walk on the tile floor.

In order to stop the invasion and prevent future problems, first you need to identify which kind of ant is in your home so you can eliminate what attracts them.

Believe it or not, some ants aren’t interested in your food. If you suspect you have carpenter ants in your home, the problem lies within your infrastructure instead of your kitchen. Since these ants nest in decaying wood, it’s easy to identify carpenter ants.

Although they won’t eat through your wood like termites, the presence of carpenter ants can alert homeowners to compromised wood within their home’s infrastructure. In order to keep carpenter ants out in the future, you’ll need to address the wood decay in your home.

How to Identify Carpenter Ants by Appearance

The carpenter ant’s size is one of its most impressive features. Most species of carpenter ants are roughly one inch long. It’s important to note that some carpenter ants can be smaller, so their size is not the most reliable marker.

Another notable feature is its color. If you see any ants that are dark black, brown, or black with reddish tints, they’re likely carpenter ants.

Since carpenter ants are social and work as a team, you’ll likely see many ants at once. Some worker carpenter ants also have wings, so be on the lookout for any flying insects.

Identifying Carpenter Ants by Location

Now that you know these particular ants like nesting in wet or rotting wood, you can identify them easier based on where you spot them.

Since carpenter ants spend most of their time working near their nest, you’ll most likely notice these ants around your ceiling, doorframe, windowsill, floor, or any other wooden area that has cracks or crevices.

Although weakened wood is what initially attracts carpenter ants into your home, they still need to eat. If you happen to spot any ants in your kitchen first, try to follow their trail to learn if they’re coming from within your infrastructure.

Other Telltale Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Carpenter ants chew through wood to create a network of tunnels within their nest. The longer they’re inside your home, the bigger their colony will expand.

If you notice any wood shavings near susceptible areas in your home with slits or holes, that may be an entryway for carpenter ants. It’s also possible that you’ll find discarded wings near these entryways.

If the colony is big, you could hear a faint buzzing within your walls. The best way to confirm that you have carpenter ants is to spot them at night or early in the morning when the worker ants are most active.

Does Your Home Show Evidence of Carpenter Ants?

Now that you know more about identifying carpenter ants, you can take the steps you need to keep your home safe.

We also exterminate ants of other kinds, of course, like fire ants and pavement ants.

Do you have a pest problem and live in the Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Delta, Langley, or White Rock area? If so, Avon Pest Control would love to help as carpenter ant removal specialists. Contact us to learn more about why our services are the best and how we can keep your home pest-free.