A unlucky few Florida Homeowners sometimes have to deal with the headache-inducing carpenter ant, this ant is bicolored and arboreal. Arboreal means that they primarily inhabit trees or frequent them. Carpenter Ants are comprised of several species, 2 of which commonly invade our homes. These Ants in Florida are typically bicolored red and black and are very noticeable when they are seen indoors or out.
These Ants are nocturnal and will be seen more during sunset and sundown more than any other time. Carpenter Ants love the night life and also have a preference for sweet things. When they invade campgrounds, homes and other structures, they will usually seek out that open can of soda or that cookie that’s lying out. They don’t eat just sweets, they have been known to eat other insects living or not.
When you find carpenter ants in your home they can be searching for moisture or sweets or even a nesting site, they especially like kitchens and bathrooms, or any room that has plumbing leaks or leaks around a door or window. They usually prefer to nest in voids that have characteristics like being close to moisture and food, safety from predators like birds or lizards, safety from flooding, heat and other environmental stressors, and easily accessible for them not you or your pest control technician.
A myth regarding carpenter ants is that they destroy wood; these guys only bore out wood that is compromised with moisture or fungi. They do not touch that perfect piece of wood. They prefer tree stumps, dead tree limps or even sheds or homes that have damaged wood. Sometimes when carpenter ants invade your home they leave bits of evidence called frass, this is left over from them creating their nest and is made up of various materials that include other dead insects and even the ants themselves.
Normally a homeowner will have a difficult time locating the nest, because they are not easily found or accessible. Baiting is an option but is not entirely successful most of the time, this is due to the carpenter ant being extremely picky eaters and they will only send out a few of their comrades for food. Your best bet is a bait that is made specifically for the carpenter ant, but it may not be successful.
To make your home less accessible to these guys is to eliminate any “bridges”, these are typically a branch or limb that touches your home. Another thing is to caulk or weather-strip any leaky windows or openings that will allow this ant access into your home. The best thing for you to think about is calling a family friendly pest professional, he/she will know tricks and the best ways to treat your home and prevent the carpenter ant from taking over your life and causing headaches.
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