Previously we learned about the carpenter ant, how to identify this ant, how to spot them, and how to locate a carpenter ant nest. Now we’ll teach you how you can prevent carpenter ants from coming near your home. Remember, carpenter ants are tricky customers, so if you’re unsure what to do give us a call and one our ant control technicians will be out to help you.
How To Prevent Carpenter Ants From Coming Near Your Home
The best way to avoid damage caused by carpenter ants is to keep your home in good repair, and to prevent opportunities for moisture to rot the wood around the building. This is always a challenge in Metro Vancouver, but the good news is carpenter ants will not start an assault on your home by attacking dry wood although they will set up satellite nests in dry wood or Styrofoam insulation.
The best defence is ensuring that any opportunities for moisture to do damage are minimized.
- Make sure your gutters are cleaned regularly to prevent overflow
- Ensure the wood siding of your home is not touching the moist earth around it.
- Don’t pile firewood near the house or let branches from trees touch the building.
- Remove all stumps and logs from nearby, and check for rotting landscape ties
- Make sure you repair all plumbing leaks as soon as they’re spotted.
- Finally, don’t forget to plug up potential entry points, such as utility line holes, cracks in the siding or concrete, and anywhere else that might provide ready access (this said, they are small insects so do not worry yourself too much in regards to access)
–> Need Help Removing Carpenter Ants From Your Home? Get a Free Quote <–
Our Secret Carpenter Ant Control Tip
Another way to prevent ants from coming near your home is to give them no excuse to do so. Carpenter ants love sweet stuff, and have a real knack for finding it. Clematis vines are really nice when they flower in the summer time but they provide a favourite tasty treat for carpenter ants, high in carbohydrates. We do not suggest you dig up the whole garden, plants and insects are very important!
However, to keep insects such as carpenter ants at a distance from your home, you should also keep the food sources a short distance from the home – even if it just means the vegetation is not in direct contact with the foundation or siding.
If you begin to notice lots of ants around your home, and you’re wondering whether they’re going to be a problem to the building, the first step is to identify whether they are carpenter ants or another less destructive cousin. In Metro Vancouver there are two main species of carpenter ant, the all-black Camponotus modoc, and the reddish-brown and black Camponotus vicinus. Carpenter ants are larger than sidewalk ants, growing up to half an inch long. The queen ant is easily identifiable because she is bigger – up to almost an inch long.
–> Next Up, learn how to treat a carpenter ant nest
Westside Pest Control is the no1. Ant Control company in the lower mainland. In addition to carpenter ants, we also treat for fire ants and Pavement Ants. If there is a need for professional help with an infestation contact one of the team today on 604-559-9060, we would be happy to help.
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