Ah! Is That Carpenter Ant Damage? Maybe. Here’s what you need to know to find out.
Carpenter ant damage. We all fear it. We can find it when we’re working on a renovation project or simply moving firewood away from the house for the spring season. Or it could be when we notice that the floor feels a little spongy, so we had to take a look. What we end up finding is wood that’s been sliced and diced by tiny insects.
But what does their damage mean? And what can you do about it? We’re on a deep dive to dig into these little pests and the massive structural damage they can do. Let’s take a look.
What are carpenter ants?
According to pestworld.org, carpenter ants are “a species of ant that get their name from the way they build nests.” Essentially, they build carpenter ant nests in wood like carpenters build homes from wood (not all pest names are super creative).
These ants are usually black, yellowish red, reddish orange, or a combination of black and the lighter colors. They have six legs like all ants, bent antennae, and chewing mandibles, pinched waists.
Like most ants, carpenter ants live in colonies. In these colonies are the carpenter ant workers (split between minor workers and major workers, based on size), large winged ants called reproductives, and the queen. Minor ants are ¼-inch long, major ants are ½-inch long, reproductives are up to ¾-inch, and the queen is around ¾-inch, but slightly larger than the reproductives.
To house these colonies, these ants target wood like framing lumber, firewood, tree stumps, and other sources. Damp wood especially attracts carpenter ants, but they can just as easily damage softwood in a home. For this reason, they’re often mistaken for termites, but they are not the same.
Ants vs Termites
Carpenter ants and termites are often confused. So often are the two mixed up that subterranean termites are often known as “white ants.” However, telling the two insects apart is actually quite easy based on not only their appearance but also the property damage they cause.
- Ants have pinched waists and segmented bodies, whereas termites are a relatively consistent thickness from their heads to the ends of their bodies.
- Ants have bent antennae while termites have straight antennae.
- Ants have small heads in relation to their body. Termites have large heads in relation to theirs.
- For reproductives, ants have 4 wings of unequal length, while flying termites have 4 wings of equal length.
- Subterranean termites are usually white or cream colored with tan heads, while ants are black, red, orange, or a combination.
- Also, termites actually eat wood, while ants do not.
Also, ant damage looks very different from termite damage. When termites damage wood, they often bring damp soil into the termite infestation and pack it with dirt. This helps keep the moisture levels higher for longer. Carpenter ants do not bring dirt into their nests. In fact, these bugs tend to be extremely clean, removing any sawdust and polishing their tunnels until the wood is smooth.
So, for reference:
- Carpenter ant damage: clean and smooth tunnels
- Termite damage: dirty, rough tunnels
How does a carpenter ant damage a home?
Carpenter ants often build nests inside of the walls, floors, and attics of homes. They do this because they are expanding their nest. These bugs generally have a main nest outside (usually in a large log or tree trunk), but they form satellite nests to expand their territory, and it’s these satellite nests that homeowners are most likely to see.
They Chew Wood to Build Galleries
When the main nest gets crowded or the carpenter ant colony needs more food or territory, carpenter ants will start a satellite colony. Once they find a suitable location (typically a source of softwood like a home’s framing lumber), the carpenter ants chew wood with their mandibles to build tunnels.
Rather than eating the wood like a termite (termites can consume cellulose like carpet beetles and silverfish), carpenter ants simply excavate it. They’ll dig tunnels and holes, and this system of tunnels and holes is called a gallery. The more wood they excavate for their gallery, the weaker the wood will become. This can be a significant issue if the wood is a framing member in a wall, floor, or ceiling, as these ants can cause structural failure.
Where Can You Find Carpenter Ant Damage?
Carpenter ant damage can really be found anywhere there is wood. However, there are some common places or fixtures in a home that folks can look.
Softwood
The most common place to find carpenter ant colonies is in structural framing members of the home. This includes the studs, joists, rafter, headers, and even the subfloor in some cases. Most homes are built with softwood lumber because it’s inexpensive to mass produce, and this is music to an ant’s ears.
Very often, the wood itself won’t appear to be damaged at all. These ants have been known to dig in a piece of wood up to the very finest layer between themselves and the outside world. Someone might not realize there is an issue until they handle the wood or it breaks on its own. This is even more so the case when that piece of lumber is buried behind drywall.
Moist and Damp Areas
Moist, damp areas that might cause water damage in wood products are also a good place to check for damage. Carpenter ants and termites are both attracted to water-damaged wood, so check areas like basements, roof joists after ice dams, and likewise places.
Also, be sure to check for plumbing leaks under the kitchen sink, roof leaks, and anywhere moisture might build up as a result of condensation (showers, spray-foam attics). These areas are just as likely to hold carpenter ant damage as any other place in the home.
What are the signs of carpenter ants and their damage?
Finding carpenter ant damage can be very difficult until it’s too late (as in, the structure fails). However, there are some signs that homeowners can look for to spot property damage.
Bubbling Paint
These ants can dig through wood up right up to the layer of paint that coats it without puncturing the paint. They do this to keep their nests hidden from predators, as opening a hole into their gallery could be bad news. However, blistered and bubbling paint can appear, it’s simply because the paint has nothing to adhere to, leaving a thin film between a carpenter ant infestation and the outside world.
Piles of Frass
Frass is the byproduct of carpenter ant digging. It looks like sawdust, and worker ants will remove it from their nests in order to keep them clean. As a result, homeowners with carpenter ant infestations often find piles of frass around their homes.
Scout Ants
If you see large black ants moving around your home, particularly in the kitchen, they may be scout ants.
Carpenter ants don’t eat wood like termites do, so they need food and may send scout ants from the colony to find it. They enjoy many of the same foods as sugar ants and other ant species, like juices, sweets, and fruit, but also eggs, meats, cakes, and even other insects.
Flying Ants
Flying ants are actually a telltale sign that there is a carpenter ant infestation, and this could be a problem. Winged reproductives leave the colony when it’s time to swarm or expand the colony. They’ll fly around, mate, and then start new colonies. However, in a home, they sometimes don’t make it out and, instead, die by windows, doors, and other sources of light.
It’s important to understand the real issue, though: only mature nests produce winged reproductives. This means that homeowners that are seeing these ants may have a significant carpenter ant infestation on their hands and should call a pro right away.
Sloping Floors and Other Signs
Some of the other most indicative signs of an infestation of wood destroying insects are a sloping floor, a sticking door, or popping drywall nails. These damages occur because these ants or other wood destroying insects are compromising the home’s framing. Joists may start bending or sloping, walls may start expanding, and doors may start sticking because these ants have been chewing away at the home’s structural members.
Faint Rustling Noises Inside Wood
It’s sometimes possible to hear carpenter ants at work. If you pick up a piece of wood that feels light or wet, and put your ear up to it, you may be able to hear faint rustling noises inside the wood. This is the sound of the ants chewing away at the wood inside.
Kick-Out Holes
One of the most fascinating things about carpenter ants are their kick-out holes. They’re famously tidy, and they don’t want frass to pile up inside their colonies, so they carry it out of the nest. But, rather than opening a large hole, they form kick-out holes, which are small, circular holes in the surface of the wood. They’ll carry the frass (and feces) to these small holes and drop them right out.
If a homeowner finds a pile of frass, they’ll likely see a small hole above it. However, they’ll have to look closely. Frass is so fine that it can actually stick to the wall on its way down.
What To Do If You Find Carpenter Ant Damage
There are a lot of things to think about if you find a carpenter ant infestation or damage from any WDI in your home.
Assess Whether the Nest is Active
The first thing to do when you find damage is to assess whether the nest is active. There is a chance that the nest is old and the previous homeowner had the ants exterminated. Look for signs of ant activity like live ants, eggs, and general activity. If the nest is active, you’ll know it.
If the nest isn’t active, you can assess the level of damage to determine if the wood is structurally compromised. If the wood is still strong and the damage is minimal, there’s no need to do anything. However, if the wood is weak, it’s a good idea to call a contractor to assess the structure.
Call a Pest Control Service
If the nest is active, there isn’t any time to waste. Because these ants are so particularly destructive, it’s important to wipe them out completely. For this reason, it’s best to call a professional pest control service to handle the job.
These pros will know how to locate the nest, what bait and pesticides to use, and even perform an inspection for wood destroying insects on the rest of the property to ensure that they haven’t spread. Also, professional pest control services can follow up on the treatment to make sure they’re gone, or help you with a service contract in which they’ll treat and prevent future damage.
A word to the wise: You may be able to save money on the treatment if you sign a contract. Ask if there are any deals or discounts for their services (they’re worth having). Also, if you’re experiencing damage from other WDIs, you might consider having them provide a quote for bee pest control and termites, as well.
FAQs
Even with all of that information on carpenter ant damage, there may be some questions still hanging around. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions on the topic.
Do carpenter ants destroy your house?
Carpenter ants can destroy parts of a house, yes. However, these ants’ goal is not to level every home in suburbia. They’re simply looking for places to build satellite colonies, and the home’s structural wood is a pretty good option.
What does damage look like from carpenter ants?
This damage looks like a series of carpenter ant tunnels and holes, all of which are smooth and free of dirt. These are called galleries, and this is where the satellite colony will nest.
How long does it take for carpenter ants to cause damage?
Here’s the upside: It can take these destructive pests years to cause significant damage. An ant infestation is a problem that can cause serious property damage but isn’t nearly as fast-moving as a termite infestation (they reign supreme among wood destroying pests and need special treament).
What is the fastest way to get rid of carpenter ants?
The fastest way of eliminating carpenter ants is to use insecticides that contain pyrethroids (permethrin). However, getting these products into the nest can be very difficult, so it’s often best to hire the job out to a pest control company or contractor.
Do carpenter ants eventually go away?
As long as there is food, carpenter ants are unlikely to leave on their own. The wood itself simply serves as a protected home, but it’s the proximity to the foods they seek that keep them around.
What happens if you ignore carpenter ants?
If ignoring them is the chosen tactic, the damage will only get worse. They’ll continue to dig and weaken wood until structural members eventually fail or the homeowner gets rid of them.
