What materials make up the structure of your home? Stone? Plastic? Brick? Chances are it is mostly made out of wood. If this is the case, then it means you are at risk of a carpenter ant infestation. These invasive wood-destroying pests are a huge problem here in Oklahoma City. Here is what you need to know about carpenter ants to keep them out of your structural wood.

What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?

If we were to ask you: what do carpenter ants eat? What would your answer be? Some people assume that these pests eat wood the way termites do. Thankfully, this is not the case. Why are we thankful for this? Well, carpenter ants not eating wood means they have to remove broken-down wood from the tunnels they create. This creates sawdust-like piles and makes these pests easier to identify than termites. As for what carpenter ants eat, they are just like other ants and will invade homes to search for sweet and meaty snacks.

Signs Of Carpenter Ants

There are many signs that indicate carpenter ants are around. The first is sawdust-like piles beneath or around small pin-sized holes in structural wood. The second sign is a rustling noise coming from inside your walls or hollowed-out doors. If it’s swarming season, you might find winged ants buzzing around indoors. Identify that they are carpenter ants by their larger size and red, black, or red and black bodies.

Do Carpenter Ants Sting?

One question we are frequently asked is: do carpenter ants sting? Thankfully, they do not. They do, however, bite. What you can expect from a carpenter ant bite is a pinching sensation and a small amount of pain. Thankfully, there are no lasting effects of carpenter ant bites.

Some Ways To Prevent Carpenter Ants

Stopping carpenter ants from invading a home is not always easy. If you are up for the task of getting your property as close to carpenter ant proof as possible, here are some steps to follow.

Identity holes and gaps in your home’s exterior foundation. Use a caulking gun to fill in these potential entry points.
Repair damage to your windows and doors and make sure they are sealed with things like weatherstripping and door sweeps.
Make sure all of your window/door screens are in good working condition and installed properly.
Repair or replace structural wood around your home that is water-damaged, rotting, or has been softened in other ways.
Have your gutters cleaned out once a year and make sure they are in good repair.
Eliminate sources of water build-up around your property, especially ones that might affect the quality of your home’s wood.
Fix leaky piping and fixtures in and around your home.
Remove clutter and debris from your yard and trim your landscaping regularly.
Remove fallen trees and stumps from your property.
Seek ant control help.

How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants

At Guaranteed Pest Services of Oklahoma, we offer a variety to handle carpenter ants inside of and around Oklahoma City homes. If you are looking for how to get rid of carpenter ants from your walls, we offer treatments to eliminate these pests fast. If you need an invisible protective barrier to deter carpenter ants year-round, we offer that service as well. We also offer comprehensive pest control plans that take care of a range of common area pests like cockroaches, ants, and beetles.

Call us today to discuss your options for service and find a time to have your Oklahoma City property treated for destructive carpenter ants.

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