Carpenter Ants

                  Carpenter Ants are our #1 pest here in Northern New York.  It almost seems like if a home doesn't have them it's just a matter of time before they do.  These Ants are attracted to moist rotting wood.  They don't actually eat the wood but they bore tunnels and chambers into it and build a nest.  As the colony grows so does the damage to the wood.  Carpenter Ants don't need rotted wood all the time but prefer it due to it's pliable texture.  They are also known to nest in styrofoam insulation, under regular insulation and even  under old tarps and such.  You can find these ants nesting just about any place in and around a structure.  Old dying trees, tree stumps, and fire wood are some examples.  You also may be dealing with more then one colony, Carpenter ants will establish satelite colonies through out the area.  The original colony is usually found outside in the woods or on the property. It takes the Queen approx. 3 months in ideal conditions to form a colony. Mature Carpenter ant colonies contain approx. 3,000 or more workers. They produce major workers and minor workers each have their own duties, they can live for approx. 7 years.  The queen can live approx. 25 years.  Ants also produce "SWARMERS'' or secondary reproducers which will eventually become a queen for a satelite colony.  Carpenter ants go through complete metamorphosis Egg-->Larvae-->Pupae-->Adult.  This life cycle takes between 2 - 10 months to complete depending on enviornmental conditions. 

If you think you are having a problem with Carpenter ants what should you do?

The most recommended thing to do is call us for a free inspection.  Inspection is the most important part of a Carpenter ant program, it's the first step in eliminating a colony.  By doing a thorough inspection of not only the structure but the property we will have an excellent idea of what is going on. In conjunction with the inspection there is also a question & answering process that goes on between our customers and us. By the time we are done we'll be on our way of ridding the structure of these wood destroying insects. In most cases we recommend you be setup in our I.P.M. program to completely eliminate the colony or colonies.  A one time treatment (in most cases) isn't suggested, it's kind of like putting a band- aid on a cut that needs stitches.  If you don't destroy the queen they will eventually re-group and become a problem all over again. Inspections, baits, monitoring, and liquid applications are all apart of our plan to eliminate the colonies, while always keeping your health and the enviroment in mind.  

  CARPENTER ANT DAMAGE