REAL ESTATE AND CLASSIFIEDS - JUNE 15-17, 2011 PAGE 3-R
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arpenter ants are a nuisance to many people and
can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage
to homes. Identifying and treating carpenter ants
can prevent financial consequences from this
....... .::..:.::~
invading pest.
Many times carpenter ant damage is mistaken for damage
caused by termites. While the two insects can both wreak havoc
to the structures of a home, identifying the difference between
the pests' damage can aide in exterminating the offending
insect.
Carpenter ants do not eat the wood they inhabit. Rather,
they tunnel through soft woods creating caverns where they
nest and lay eggs. Tunnels created by carpenter ants will be
smooth and free of debris, called frass. Wood that has been
damaged by termites will be rugged and potentially filled with
sawdust shavings or mud.
MOISTURE IS the friend of carpenter ants. Moist wood is
especially susceptible to damage from these ants. Rotting tree
trunks, stumps, or roots are often infested with carpenter ants.
However, healthy, bard, dry wood is more difficult for carpen-
ter ants to channel through. Therefore, eliminating moisture
from the home is one way to keep these insects from setting
up nests indoors.
Much like termites, carpenter ants will swarm in the spring
to establish new nests. It is not uncommon to see winged ants
in search of a new roost. If winged queens are repeatedly found
indoors, this is a good indication that there is a nest inside of
the home.
THERE ARE ways to reduce carpenter ant numbers indoors.
Initially, make sure any sources of damp wood are eradicated.
If wood is routinely stored indoors, as is the case for firewood,
elevate it to provide ample air circulation. Promptly remove
tree and shrub stumps and roots around the home. Also trim
back any branches that overhang a home.
Carpenter ants feed on insects and sweet nectars. Reducing
food sources in the home and promptly cleaning up any spills
can help prevent the ants from seeking out sweet sources inside.
If carpenter ants prove to be troublesome foes, consult with
an exterminator who can assess the situation and propose a
treatment option. If carpenter ants aremerely found outdoors
doing their job as nature's wood decomposers, leave them be.
ALSO COMMON during the late spring season is the car-
penter bee. Similar in-appearancetoabumblebee, carpenter bees
are large bees that can be found hovering around the outside
Of a home.
Carpenter bees can be distinguished from bumblebees
because their abdomen is shiny black, not furry like a bumble-
bee. Carpenter bees can do damage to a home by boring per-
fectly round holes into wood structures. Common nesting sites
include eaves, window trims, facia boards, siding, wooden
shakes, decks, and outdoor furniture.
They lay their eggs inside, which will later develop into lar-
vae. While carpenter bee damage is mostly superficial, predators
such as birds like woodpeckers may cause additional damage
by digging through the wood to eat carpenter bee larvae.
Carpenter bees prefer to attack wood that is bare, weath-
ered and unpainted. Therefore, the best way to deter the bees
is to paint all exposed wood surfaces, especially those which
have a history of being attacked.
BEWARE OF CARPENTER ANTS! - Carpenter ants
(shown at left) are a nuisance to people, but can cause
thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes, as shown
in the top photograph. Another pest to be on the lookout
for are Carpenter bees, shown at bottom, right.
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