Let's Talk About Tick Control In Houston
March 20, 2023
Why are ticks living around your Houston property? Find out how to protect yourself and your pets from ticks.
Read More
Some pests in Houston are destructive, while others are harmless nuisance pests. Pests like ants fall into both categories, spreading diseases, food contamination, and other waste from place to place. Carpenter ants are no exception and are part of a wood-eating family that includes termites, powderpost beetles, and carpenter bees. The true threat from carpenter ants lies in their ability to destroy structural supports and other integral parts of the home.
Here are some of the best ways to identify carpenter ants near your Houston property:
- Insects with shiny black exoskeletons
- Ants that are almost half an inch long
- Frass piles near the foundation of baseboards or walls
- Catching sight of these ants marching through your kitchen, bathroom, or pantry
So why do you have a carpenter ant problem inside your home? It may be due to some factors both indoors and outdoors on your property.
What Carpenter Ants Are Attracted To
Like every living creature, carpenter ants require long-term factors to ensure their survival. In other words, they need food, water, and shelter in order to reproduce effectively. If you have begun to notice a higher level of ant traffic around your home, it may be due to these attractants:
- Protein (meats, peanut butter, and fats)
- Sugars (spilled soft drinks, honey, or desserts)
- Dead insects (beetles, larvae, and other ants)
- Honeydew secretion (from backyard aphids)
- Pet foods (dry food, wet cat food, and more)
If these factors are present anywhere around your home, you may be attracting large numbers of carpenter ants to the area. Carpenter ant damage is nothing to shake a stick at, especially when dealing with an ongoing problem. Wood-eating pests are associated with destruction for a reason, and the extent of carpenter ant damage may include:
- Weakened supports
- Tight-fitting doors and windows
- Sagging walls
- Hanging or splitting ceilings
Also, to make matters worse, carpenter ants are almost impossible to treat without professional assistance. Due to their prevalent natures and secretive behaviors, many homeowners do not catch on to their activities until it’s too late. Worse still, the vast majority of carpenter ant controls only address symptoms and not the root cause. Over-the-counter treatments can be toxic in high doses and fail to address every pest in the colony. Baits and traps may be more effective, but they may also risk the wellness of the vulnerable such as children, pets, and the elderly. Finally, the use of preventative steps will only stop infestations before they occur and not after.
Managing a carpenter ant problem is very difficult indeed. That’s why choosing All-Safe Pest & Termite for carpenter ant control will always be your best option.
Get Rid Of Your Carpenter Ant Woes With All-Safe Pest & Termite
Frankly, using DIY steps or home remedies will not be enough to exterminate an established carpenter ant infestation. Some forms of ant control are dangerous or even toxic at high concentrations, making your property far less safe for everyone involved. The best way to get rid of a carpenter ant infestation is to call in a professional team like the All Safe Pest & Termite folks.
We include a skilled group of professionals with a passion for safe, easy, and affordable pest control. We strive to care for all our Houston clients as though they were a part of our family, innovating new ways to provide you with a pest-free environment no matter what. Sign up for a carpenter ant control plan for your commercial business or residential property. Contact All-Safe Pest & Termite for more information.
