Get Professional Help For Carpenter Ants MN
Carpenter ants make their nests in galleries they bore out of wood. The nest can be inside or outside the house. Carpenter ants are active indoors during many months of the year, usually during the spring and summer. When ants are active in the house during late winter/early spring (February/March), the infestation (nest) is probably within the household. When carpenter ants are first seen in the spring and summer (May/June), then the nest is likely outdoors and the ants are simply coming in for food. The natural food of the ants consists of honeydew from aphids, other insects, and plant juices, but they will readily forage for water and food scraps within the house.
Identify Household Ants
Distinguishing ants from termites
Correct identification is essential because different species require different controls. Homeowners might confuse the winged males and females that leave the nest on mating flights with termites. However, you can distinguish between ants and termites by the differences in their antennae, waist, and wings. Also, carpenter ant sawdust is fibrous versus the 6-sided shaped pellets of drywood termites.
Ant
Management Of Ant Problem
The key to management of a carpenter ant problem is to find and destroy the nest(s). This can involve some detective work and patient observation.
Once you have found the nest(s), there are a number of things that can be done. However, getting rid of carpenter ants can be a challenge. Sometimes the ants are coming from inside the home, while other times outside debris may be the problem. Treating the problem yourself is feasible if there’s a small colony. However, if you see 20 or more winged carpenter ants you may have a larger colony and need professional assistance.
Termite
Get Professional Help Exterminating Carpenter Ants
If you’ve tried treating carpenter ants yourself without any success, consider hiring a Minnesota ant control expert. They often have more effective alternatives to exterminate carpenter ants from your home.
When choosing a professional, make sure they carefully examine your home. Once the nest is located, they will typically drill holes if needed and treat the affected areas with insecticide.
| Carpenter Ant | Termite | |
| Waist | Pinched narrow | Thick |
| Antennae | Bent elbow | Straight |
| Wings | ClearTop pair is larger than bottomNo piles of wings can be found after swarmingWorkers are wingless | Opaque (milky)Both pairs are similar sizePiles of wings can be found after swarming |
| Look for… | Small piles of sawdust from tunneling | No sawdust piles. Termites eat the wood. |
