Carpenter Ants in the Home?

Carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood like a termite does but they use it for shelter and bore tunnels through it and can hollow it out. Both carpenter ants and termites swarm in the spring and are often confused by people as to which is which. There are a few body characteristics to keep in mind to help you easily distinguish one from the other.  

Ants have:

1. A defined waist
2. Bent or elbowed antennae
3. If winged, they will have 4 wings with the 2 up front being longer than the hind
4. Often seen in the daylight

Termites have:

1. No waist - straight bodied
2. Straight antennae
3. If winged, they will have 4 wings that are all the same size
4. Avoid daylight

The ants’ preference is for moist and or decaying wood. There are a few things you can do to make your home less enticing.  Eliminate sources of moisture and repair any water leaks.  Do not store firewood near the house or allow decaying wood/stumps to remain close to the home. Trim branches back off the house because ants can use these as a ‘sidewalk’ in.  Seal all cracks and gaps you can find in the walls, around windows, foundation etc. 

Feel free to reach out with any home ownership or buying related questions!