Why do carpenter ants eat wood

The gallery walls that carpenter ants create are smooth, with a sand-papered appearance. Active galleries are kept clean of debris.

Carpenter ants prefer to attack wood softened by fungus and are often associated with moisture problems, so homeowners should keep an eye out for excess moisture and soft, rotting wood around the home.

Photo of a carpenter ant on a branch. Photo of a carpenter ant in damaged wood. Close-up photo of a carpenter ant head. Pair of Florida carpenter ant heads. Side view of a carpenter ant. Photo of wood damage from a Florida carpenter ant. Quick snapshot of the appearance and distribution of carpenter ants. Carpenter ants require a water source to survive. To prevent brown, red or black carpenter ants in the house, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house.

Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of doors or around windows. Seal all openings with a silicone-based caulk. Also, keep firewood and building materials stored away from the home.

Carpenter ants like to build nests in stacks of wood. What kind of damage can a carpenter ant do to my house? Learn more about carpenter ants and the threats they pose.

Carpenter ants have powerful jaws and their bites can be painful. They may also inject formic acid into the bite wound, creating a burning sensation. However, this pain will subside and does not pose a significant health threat.

Most species of carpenter ants attack wood that is currently or has previously been wet and damaged by mold. Even though carpenter ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may later begin excavating tunnels through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through plumbing and electrical penetrations in the home. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs outdoors that touch the building above ground, then enter the home through any small opening.

The time of day when carpenter ants are most likely to be seen foraging for food is at night between sunset and midnight during spring and summer. If you were to see one carpenter ant foraging for food in your home, you might be tempted to think you only have a few ants.

But, you would likely be wrong since most carpenter ants stay within their tunnels and galleries and only send out a few scouts in search of food. If you already see these ants inside your home, it is time to reach out for professional help. Although these wood-destroying pests do not actually eat the wood of your home, they will continue to dig tunnels and galleries, which can produce severe structural damage if given enough time.

Don't fool around with destructive pests; contact the carpenter ant control professionals at Parkway Pest Services today. Life is better when you know your home is safe from destructive pests. Complete the form below to request your no obligation quote from Parkway Pest Services. Best Service Date:. Are you an existing customer? Send Request Now or call now What Do Carpenter Ants Eat? Carpenter Ant Prevention Tips Know what a carpenter ant looks like. These are large black or reddish ants with a single node between their thorax and abdomen.

Know what a carpenter ant swarmer looks like. Also called "flying ants," these are large ants with wings. Know what carpenter ant wings look like.

Contact us using the form below. We carefully conduct a home pest inspection of your property looking for potential entry points and signs of pest activity that are often difficult to detect.

This comprehensive pest and termite inspection is the only way to determine the real root of a pest problem, as well as the best way to solve it. For a no obligation free pest control quote for your home, please complete the form below. We'll take it from there. One of our trained professionals will contact you upon receiving your request and set up a date and time that is convenient for you.

Thank you for your interest in our free home pest inspection. Call to Schedule Service Today Mosquito Control. You may not always notice them — and they may not look all that scary — but termites are truly terrifying. How to Avoid a Ratpocalypse in Your Home. Spotty Lawn? These Pests Could Be Why. Arrow's Command Center. First Name. Last Name. ZIP Code. Carpenter Ants Camponotus species Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests.

Color Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black. Carpenter Ant Habits Carpenter ants build their nests inside wood, carving out their own tunnels to create habitable space. Where Do Carpenter Ants Nest? What do Carpenter Ants Eat? How to Identify a Carpenter Ant Carpenter ants are often confused with termites, as both spend a lot of time in wood.

Signs You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation The presence of worker ants inside a building or home can point to an infestation.