Yakima County has fantastic wineries and plenty of fun outdoor activities to enjoy. However, if you call Yakima home, you'll need to inspect and treat your home for carpenter ants. When left to their own devices, carpenter ants can damage your home, deck, and fences.
If you identify signs of carpenter ants in your house, you need effective pest control solutions to get things under control. A Yakima County pest control service like Prosite can help treat and prevent carpenter ant problems.
Signs Of A Carpenter Ant Infestation
There are many types of ants local to Yakima County. Carpenter ants are usually black, red, or a combination of red and black and measures 5/8 inches long.
It's easy for an infestation to go unnoticed if you don't know what to look for in your home. Be vigilant as you inspect your home for the following signs of a carpenter ant infestation:
- Discarded wings around your property, especially near window sills
- Carpenter ant frass which looks like a pile of wood shavings and dark insect parts near the deck, porch, doors, and windows
- Faint sounds of rustling coming from your walls
- Piles of wood shavings around your property
- Small holes tunneled into wooden surfaces around your home
How to eliminate carpenter ants? If there is an infestation on your property, contact Prosite for pest control services.
A colony of black carpenter ants in your Yakima County home will likely produce swarmers in as little as two years. Stay prepared and schedule a carpenter ant treatment during the year.
The Multiple Problems Carpenter Ants Create In A Home
A colony of carpenter ants may consist of tens of thousands of insects. Each colony member is either a worker, a soldier, or serves as a secondary reproductive. It's also possible for there to be more than one colony on your property.
Here's what to know:
- Carpenter ants don't eat wood but build their colonies within it. They don't consume cellulose but other insects or honeydew from aphids and scale insects. They may also eat food from your kitchen.
- Insects will leave holes in wood where they expel carpenter ant frass and wood shavings.
- You might spy smooth tunnels in wood that look sanded or polished, with holes.
- Carpenter ants might build nests (galleries) in siding, joists, subflooring, stairs, decks, and doors.
Carpenter ants in Yakima County will target wet, damaged, and moldy wood. Look for walls or wood that need replacing and repair leaks or plumbing. These pests move on to structurally sound wood as they progress.
Factors That Attract Carpenter Ants To Your Home
When you have carpenter ants in Yakima County, they can cause a lot of damage. Because these insect pests gravitate toward wood with existing damage or fungus, wood with moisture damage is an easy target.
Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't feed on cellulose. These insects seek out protein sources and feed on living and dead insects. Keep an eye out for carpenter ants in your kitchen if you have sweets, as these pests love sugar, honey, and fats.
Do your best to maintain a clean home that is in good repair. Carpenter ants are attracted to dark, damp places and wet wood. Be careful when storing firewood, wipe down window sills, and repair or replace rotting wood in your home.
Contact The Pros At The First Sign Of Carpenter Ants In Your Home
Can carpenter ants bite? Carpenter ants don't sting, but they might bite if provoked. If you do receive a bite, it may cause swelling, warmth, itching, and a burning sensation. These pests will defend their colony and attack if threatened, but they are not venomous. The larger concern is the damage they will do to your property over time.
How to get rid of carpenter ants in Yakima County? Call Prosite. We provide dependable pest control solutions that are safe for kids, pets, and the environment. We guarantee our services, and you can schedule monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly treatments for your home in Yakima county. Call today for a consultation and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Yakima County so we can fix your carpenter ant problem.