| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Size | Large – up to 5/8” – can vary between ants within the colony |
| Body | Red, black, brown or a combination of both red and black |
| Color | Rounded thorax with a pinched waist, and large mandibles |
| Legs | 6 |
| Antennae | Yes, elbowed |
| Wings | Swarmers have a front pair of wings that is longer than the back pair |
Habitat:
- Moist or damp wood such as hollowed out trees, logs, and posts as well as rotting or damp wood within homes or other structures.
Habits:
- Burrowing through damp or rotting wood to create passageways or “galleries” for easier movement between nests.
- Carpenter Ants are often mistaken for termites but, unlike termites, they do not eat wood. They prefer to eat honeydew produced by aphids and other sugar solutions.
- Carpenter Ant colonies are made up of primary and satellite nests that can reach up to 100,000 workers.
Often confused with termites, Carpenter Ants are wood-destroying insects that are found throughout Wisconsin. They have the ability to tunnel out large sections of moist or rotting wood, often making their way through entire buildings causing walls and beams to collapse. While they do cause damage similar to that of a termite, Carpenter Ants do not eat wood but instead excavate tunnels and cavities to build an extensive maze of nests and passageways. These tunnels, often called “galleries”, allow for easy access to other parts of the nest. They leave behind signs of these excavations which make it easier to signal an infestation.
Carpenter Ant Habitat
Carpenter Ants can build nests both indoors and out. They prefer damp or rotting wood, often nesting in wood that has been excavated by other pests. Outdoors they like tree stumps, firewood, posts, and wood fencing. While they prefer outdoors, carpenter ants will nest in insulation, both wood and foam, hollow doors, wall voids, window frames, and support beams inside your home. An infestation of Carpenter Ants in your home is often an indication of a moisture problem. They enter the structure through small cracks in the foundation and even through plumbing or electrical openings. Carpenter Ants can travel long distances from their nests in search of a food source.
Carpenter Ant Threats and Dangers
The largest threat that Carpenter Ants present is to the structural integrity of a home or other structure. As they create their nests, they destroy the wood. If left untreated they will branch out from the primary nest to create satellite nests with populations sometimes reaching 100,000. Seeing sawdust or other wood particles in an area or hearing a rustling sound inside a wall as well as seeing winged insects inside your home could be an indication of an infestation.
What To Do If You’re In Need Of Milwaukee Carpenter Ant Removal?
Call The Bug Man and Queen Bee. Our friendly office staff will give you an estimate over the phone and get you scheduled as soon as possible, sometimes the next day! On the day of your appointment, our experts will come to your home and do a full inspection, both inside and out, to determine where the Carpenter Ants are nesting and eliminate the problem using a combination of techniques designed to rid you of the infestation and prevent another from occurring. As a local and family-owned business, we take great pride in meeting, and exceeding, our customers’ expectations. Contact us today for your free estimate!