Are you tired of battling pesky carpenter ants in your home only to see them return time and time again? These wood-boring insects are a common indoor nuisance, particularly during the warm and humid months.
And while all ants can be a bother, carpenter ants are especially problematic, as they can cause significant damage to wooden structures if left unchecked. But do carpenter ants eat wood when they tunnel through your home?
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the diet of carpenter ants and explore the truth behind this common misconception. Read on to learn more about what carpenter ants eat and how they interact with their environment.
How Do Carpenter Ants Invade Homes?
Have you ever woken up to find a line of ants marching across your kitchen countertop, or worse, discovered a swarm of carpenter ants seemingly feasting on the wooden beams of your home? If so, you’re not alone.
Why do carpenter ants invade homes in the first place?
Like most insects, carpenter ants are driven by the need to find food. They are particularly attracted to sweet and sugary substances, which they seek in your pantry, counters, and even trash cans.
In addition to food, carpenter ants also require a source of water to survive. They flock to damp or moist environments, such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
If your home has ample food and water, it may provide an optimal nesting site. Once inside your home, carpenter ants can cause a variety of problems. They can damage wooden structures, leading to costly repairs, but do carpenter ants eat wood?
Do Carpenter Ants Eat Wood?
Because of their role as wood-destroying insects, you may wonder, “Do carpenter ants eat wood?”
Unlike termites, carpenter ants won’t consume any wood inside or outside your home. In fact, they cannot digest it due to the lack of enzymes in their digestive system.
Instead, they use their powerful mandibles to tunnel through wood, create nests, and expand their living space.
So why do some people believe that carpenter ants eat wood? It’s likely due to the visible damage they can cause to wooden structures. As they burrow through the wood, they construct galleries and chambers that weaken the frame and can lead to structural damage over time.
Additionally, carpenter ants often push sawdust and debris from their tunneling out of the nest, which can be mistaken for wood shavings or evidence of eating.
Despite their inability to digest wood, carpenter ants can still cause significant damage to wooden structures and should be dealt with promptly. If you suspect you have a carpenter ant infestation, it’s essential to contact a professional pest control service to assess the situation and develop an effective treatment plan.
By addressing the root causes of the infestation and implementing preventative measures, you can protect your home from further damage and keep these unwelcome guests at bay. Here at Innovative Pest Solutions, we can help you handle the carpenter ant problem on your property!
Carpenter Ant Diet
What do carpenter ants eat? Carpenter ants may not eat wood, but they’re not picky eaters.
These pests are scavengers, meaning they will eat just about anything they can find. They prefer sugary substances like honeydew, a sweet, sticky liquid produced by aphids and other plant-sucking insects. They will also feast on fruit, especially overripe or rotting fruit rich in sugars.
But carpenter ants don’t just have a sweet tooth – they also need protein to survive. They will actively hunt for insects like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders, using their powerful mandibles to subdue their prey. They will even scavenge dead insects or animals, consuming the protein-rich decomposition to meet their nutritional needs.
In addition to these primary food sources, carpenter ants eat a variety of other substances, including seeds, fungi, and even human food. They have a keen sense of smell and are always looking for new food sources to add to their diet.
How to Prevent & Eliminate Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants can be a persistent and damaging presence in your home, but there are steps you can take to prevent and eliminate them. Here are some highly effective tips to help you keep your home carpenter ant-free:
- Keep your home clean: Carpenter ants are attracted to food and water sources, so keeping your home tidy is crucial. Wipe down counters and floors and store food in sealed containers. Fix any leaky faucets or pipes to eliminate sources of standing water.
- Seal up entry points: Carpenter ants can enter your home through small cracks and openings. Seal any potential entry points, including gaps around doors and windows and cracks in your foundation.
- Dispose of damp or rotting wood: These ants prefer to nest in wet or rotting wood. Removing any potential nesting sites can discourage them from making a colony in your home. Check out this article to learn about the signs of rotten wood!
- Call in the professionals: If you have a large or persistent carpenter ant infestation, it may be time to call in a professional pest control service. They can assess the situation and develop an effective treatment plan to eliminate the infestation.
These tips can prevent carpenter ants and protect your home from damage. With a little effort and vigilance, you can keep these unwelcome guests at bay and enjoy a carpenter ant-free house.
But what should you do whenever carpenter ants invade your home and overstay their welcome? That’s where the experts at Innovative Pest Solutions enter!
Our highly trained technicians can locate moisture hotspots that may entice these pests to stay, uncovering the source of an infestation in no time! With our top-notch residential pest control plans, we can eliminate these destructive pests and keep you safe.
Why wait for carpenter ants to forage further in your home? Contact us today!
