Carpenter ants are often mistaken for termites due to their wood-loving ways and are just as capable of causing severe, costly structural damage. In addition to wood, these destructive insects are huge fans of moisture, so their presence usually indicates a humidity or leak issue within your home. Maintaining a dry residence and understanding the signs of an infestation are the keys you need for proper ant control.

How Do You Know When You Have a Carpenter Ant Infestation?

1. Frass Piles

Carpenter ants burrow through wood instead of consuming it, leaving piles of frass behind. Frass looks like sawdust and is frequently found near doors, windows, skylights, room corners, and baseboards.

2. Faint Rustling Sounds

Faint rustling sounds within walls or inside woodwork are another common sign of carpenter ants. The insects make noise as they burrow and create their nests, which helps your ant control professional pinpoint the exact location of the infestation.

3. Damaged Wood

Hollowed-out wood and similar damage point to the presence of carpenter ants. The insects’ nests are smooth rather than muddy in appearance, which helps you tell the difference between them and termites.

4. Ant Trails

Carpenter ants follow forging trails in hopes of finding food. If you have any open packages of food in your kitchen, expect the ants to congregate, so try to store everything in tightly sealed containers

5. Insect Emergence

Seeing large, winged carpenter ants coming out of your ceiling, walls, and any other crevice within your home signals a serious infestation. It means the ants have been nesting and more of the insects are ready to cause damage.

Work with the talented ant control experts at Bugout Termite & Pest Control to keep carpenter ants from taking over your home. The Glen Burnie, MD-based exterminator service provides a full suite of residential pest control options, including termite and bed bug treatments in addition to ant control. Call (410) 760-6065 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website to make a service request.