Knoxville's Complete Guide To Carpenter Ant Control
If you're a Knoxville property owner, dealing with ants is an unfortunate fact of life at one point or another. Ants are among the most common household invaders, and they can become a problem both indoors and outdoors.
However, while ant species can become a problem, as they can be especially invasive with large colonies, certain species are worse than others. One of the most troublesome ant species in the area is the carpenter ant. These ants can destroy property as they chew through wood to build tunnels and nests. It's commonly thought that these ants eat wood like termites, but while they can do similar damage, they don't eat the wood.
However, because carpenter ants can look similar to other species, it's important to know how to tell them apart. Understanding what they look like can help you catch an infestation early on and save your property and also save you money.
Here is what carpenter ants look like:
- Carpenter ants are dark brown or black.
- They have a single node or "waist" that attaches their abdomen to their thorax.
- They have noticeable pincers and heart-shaped heads.
What Are The Problems That Carpenter Ants Cause?
While people usually only worry about termites regarding property damage, carpenter ants are also a serious problem that can end up costing you thousands of dollars in repairs. Generally, termites do more harm than carpenter ants, but this is mainly because a termite infestation is even harder to notice.
However, carpenter ant damage can still be significant, and the problems can grow worse if the infestation goes unchecked.
Here are some of the things that carpenter ants can ruin as they tunnel through the wood:
- Wooden flooring
- Support and structural beams
- Wooden doors and door frames
- Foam insulation
- Drywall
The other problems carpenter ants can cause include food contamination and contamination of food prep surfaces. Like most other ant species, the carpenter ant will get into pet and human food, especially jellies, syrups, and sugary drinks. However, they aren't known to spread any diseases.
Some Tips To Prevent Carpenter Ants
Since carpenter ants can be an invasive, destructive, and dangerous pest, knowing how to prevent them can save you stress and money. Keep in mind that prevention steps aren't a complete guarantee, but they can help.
Here are some preventative measures you should take:
- Get rid of any decaying or water-damaged wood.
- Store firewood at least 30 feet away from the exterior of your home or other buildings.
- Store pet food in airtight containers.
- Address moisture issues by fixing leaky pipes and faucets.
- Clean up food spills right away.
How To Handle Carpenter Ant Infestations
Since carpenter ants can be so destructive, having them around your Knoxville property can lead to a lot of stress, time, and money. However, there is one guaranteed solution to protect your home from carpenter ants. The experts at Urbanex provide ongoing, effective carpenter ant prevention and control services. We'll save you the stress and money of dealing with these infestations on your own. We even offer free inspections. Find out more about our ant control services in Knoxville by giving us a call today.
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