Can You Treat for Winged Carpenter Ants in Winter to Prevent Damage to Your Bridgeton, NJ House?

Even though the temperature outside is telling you pests are but a distant memory, you should know that you are never really out of the woods. Many insects hibernate during the winter or lay their eggs to hatch in the spring, but there are some that will stay active all winter long if they get the chance. This is especially true for carpenter ants if they have nested inside the walls of your home. This destructive pest will stay active as long as they are warm and have a food source. Ross Environmental Solutions is here to share some facts about carpenter ants and what you can expect from them during the winter months.

What Keeps Carpenter Ants Active in Your Home During the Winter

As the temperature drops, if carpenter ants don’t have awarm place to live, they will become quite sluggish. They will only fall intothis dormant state if they have to though. If carpenter ants have built theirnest in the walls of your home, they will continue to thrive throughout thecold months of the year. Before winter even hits, they will eat a large amountof food in case they need it to get them through to the spring. If they canfind food in your home, they will continue to thrive and will stay as active asif it were summer outside.

Carpenter Ant Damage

Carpenter ants are like termites in the fact that they cancause damage to your home as they nest in the walls of your house. They don’tdigest and eat the wood, but they hollow it out to build their nests andgalleries. They will actually be looking for food in your home and bring itback to the nest. If they are left long enough, their colony will continue togrow and so will their nest. It can cause major structural damage to your home.

Signs of Carpenter Ant Infestation

The first and most obvious sign that you have carpenter antsis to spot the ants themselves. They are large black, brown or red ants; muchlarger than other ant species. You will also see exit holes where they leaveand enter their nests. These exit holes will have small piles of sawdust aroundthem as well. You can see these small exit holes with a flashlight and the bestplace to look is in your basement and the attic of your home. Some people saythat they can hear faint rustling in the walls of their home when theinfestation is a large one.

Ant Control

If you suspect carpenter ants in your home, it is important that you take action. You can count on the professionals at Ross Environmental Solutions to help you eradicate any carpenter ant infestation you may be dealing with. We provide an inspection and then a plan of action to get rid of this destructive pest. Call us today!