Imagine seeing big blank ants running on kitchen counters and floors the entire night. Noticing them in huge numbers is an alarming sign to know whether there is an active carpenter ant colony in your house or not. These ant species primarily build nests outdoors in decayed wood, logs, or tree stumps. There is a huge possibility that they might even nest inside walls of windows, exterior foundations, or basements. It is important to learn best way to control ants inside walls to prevent any worst infestation. Through this guide, we will delve into basic information about carpenter ants and how to remove their nests inside the walls.
Best Way To Control Ants: How To Locate Nests Inside Walls
Carpenter ants are known to do immense structural damage to businesses and homes as they prefer nesting in damp or decayed wood. They create galleries in wood for establishing their nests. And this digging can hugely weaken or damage the wooden structure. Mostly, homeowners are unable to understand the existence of carpenter ant problems until they witness extensive damage.
These species work in a certain pattern: They prefer to stay hidden during the daytime and move out in the evening to search for food. It’s hard to locate their indoor nests without professional ant control Surrey help. They create their nests deep within the wood in hollow spaces, attics, wall voids, or gaps in door frames and windows. To confirm a colony’s presence, drill a hole in the wall or break a section of wood.
Other Common Types of Ants That Can Live In Walls
It is surprising, but carpenter ants are not just the only species that start infestation inside the walls. Different other household ant species can be blamed for it. First, we have odorous house ants that are commonly found in crevices or wall voids near the pantry or kitchen. They generally feed on sugary or sweet foods.
Pharaoh ants prefer building their nests in high-moisture locations like bathrooms. They are also experts in hiding inside electrical outlets, wall voids, behind window spills, as well as under the floors. Crazy ants reside under carpet floors, inside wall voids, or behind potted plants. Little black ants prefer to live within crevices and cracks in walls and cabinets.
Preventive Tips To Keep Carpenter Ants Away From Home
Performing ant control Abbotsford against carpenter species might look challenging, but it is not as hard as you think it to be. Following a few important preventive measures can help to prevent future infestation and make your house pest-free. Let’s discuss a few of them below:
Spot the Signs of Infestation
Before you think of any ant control measure, spotting the signs of infestation is extremely important. If there are any insects inside the walls, you will notice rustling sounds, small piles of wood shavings, or build-up of trails. Large black ants prefer to build nests near moist areas. Observing their activity can help locate their colony.
Track Down Their Nest
Carpenter ants are most active during night-time. You can follow their trail between nest and food sources to locate them easily. For them, common hiding spots are attic spaces, rotting wood, as well as wall voids. Meanwhile, tapping on walls brings a hollow sound, signaling the presence of a nest inside. After finding them, you can take direct action for ant removal.
Fix Moisture Problems
All ant species thrive in rotting, damp wood to build their nests. Therefore, fixing moisture problems is the best solution for ant control Vancouver. Improve ventilation, use dehumidifiers, and repair leaks in crawl or basement spaces. Dry out the entire indoor and outdoor areas to hence make them less attractive for the pests. Replacing water-damaged wood can remove their nesting sites and discourage them from staying inside your walls.
Seal Gaps and Entry Points
Ants are so tiny that they can easily nest inside a wall through small cracks, holes, or gaps. Make sure you seal them all properly using weather stripping and caulk. Trim all extra tree branches or shrubs since insects use them as bridges. A well-sealed home makes it harder for ants to invade.
Keep Your Home Clean and Ant-Free
Wipe away spills and store food in airtight sealed containers. Refrain from leaving pet food out and open overnight. Regularly clean floors and kitchen counters to remove extra food particles. To reduce their attraction, keep debris and firewood away from your house. Clean surroundings are important to prevent their return.
Taking Professional Expert Help
For a severe infestation, hiring professional services of ant removal Langley exterminator is the best option to consider. They use safe, efficient, and reliable methods for quick elimination of trails, ensuring long-term results. Plus, they also teach homeowners some effective preventive tips to avoid infestation in the future.
FAQs
- How to tell if carpenter ants are nesting inside my walls?
Different signs help to identify carpenter ants inside the walls. A few common signs are rustling sounds inside walls, ants coming out from crevices or cracks, and piles of wood shavings (frass).
- What common signs identify an unknown ant colony?
To identify hidden ant colonies, you will notice winged ants indoors, sawdust-like debris around the baseboard, and hollow-sounding wood. Crumbling or weak wood is another major warning.
- In which places do carpenter ants build nests inside walls?
They prefer decayed or damp wood to build their nests near doorways, window frames, insulation gaps, and plumbing leaks. Hence, they tunnel inside, leaving clean, smooth galleries.
- Is it possible to track carpenter ants back to their nest?
Tracking an ant’s nest is possible only when you follow worker ants at night using a flashlight. Follow them when they are traveling between their nest and food sources. Tap the suspected wood and listen for rustling noises.
- How to remove a carpenter ant nest myself?
Small colonies can rapidly grow in just a few days. To eliminate them from walls, hiring professional services of ant removal Maple Ridge is a go-to solution.
Stop Ants Invading Your Home – Hire ASM Pest Control Now!
Dangerous ants invading your business or home can be extremely annoying. But with ASM Pest Control, you will experience effective and reliable removal solutions for fast colony elimination. Our experienced team applied eco-friendly treatments that ensure long-term results against future invasion. Whether it’s pavement, carpenter, or any other ant species, we use safe methods to keep your space safe and hygienic. Hire our professional and fast service right now.
