The latter part of May and through the month of June carpenter ants become most visible as this is the swarming season for them. Emerging carpenter ant queens are looking for a new place to nest. This is important for those who own homes in the Puget Sound area as carpenter ants can and do damage many homes. Carpenter ants have a social organization that ensures their continued existence with a breeding ant and soldier-worker ants. They have a main colony usually away from the home where there is a food source, moisture and shelter. From the main colony the carpenter ants will start sub colonies, it is the sub colonies that are generally found in homes. Carpenter ants do not eat the wood used in our homes; they chew through it in order build their sub colonies. In doing this they weaken the wood and this is the concern we have.
Adult carpenter ants are generally 3/8” in length and are black. The body of the ant appears smooth from a distance, but up close and magnified the carpenter ant has small hair like fuzz on their body. Carpenter ants are easily identified by a sharp “Petiole” behind the thoracic dorsum or mid-body and the back of the ant. Queens have two sets of wings during the swarming season their front pair is a bit larger than the rear pair and very close together.
A carpenter ant infestation in the home can be eliminated. However, most pest management companies will use the term “controlled” as often that is the best that can be accomplished when there is such an abundance of food for the carpenter ants. The main colony can be up to 1000 feet away from your home, which very well is your neighbor’s property. Controlling carpenter can be accomplished with chemical or organic sprays. You can apply them yourself or hire a pest management company to spray on a regular scheduled program. Either way in the Puget Sound controlling carpenter ants is necessary to protect our homes from the severe damage they can cause.
