Carpenter ants may look unassuming, but in reality, these tiny pests are anything but harmless. In fact, carpenter ants are one of the most significant structural pests in Oregon. Left untreated, they can cause structural damage that racks up expensive repair bills and leaves you with your head in your hands.
Carpenter ants in Salem are a very real and very common concern, but knowing how to identify and address them can help you take control over (and protect) your property.
Let’s take a look at Salem carpenter ants and discuss the treatment methods and preventative tips you need to know most.
How To Identify Carpenter Ants In Salem
Oregon is home to the destructive Camponotus species of carpenter ants. These ants are known for their affinity for excavation—wood excavation, that is. These little laborers don’t eat wood as termites do; instead, they tunnel through it to create cozy nests.
Here’s how to spot them in your home:
- Color: Most carpenter ants are either black with dark red legs or black with a reddish abdomen.
- Size: They’re the big guys of the ant world. Workers measure between ⅜ to ½ inch long, while the winged females (the queens looking to start new colonies) can reach ⅝ of an inch.
- Waist Node: If you take a closer look with a magnifying glass, you’ll notice they have one distinct node at their waist, a defining feature if you’re playing pest detective.
- Habitat: If you’re poking around the dark, damp corners of your home or near areas of rotting wood, you may stumble upon carpenter ant activity.
- Winged Ants Indoors: If you spot what looks like a flying ant inside, especially if you spot more than one, it’s time to be concerned—it could mean there’s an established colony indoors, and they’re dispersing to find more space, as their populations have grown too large.
- Frass Piles: Tiny piles of wood shavings mixed with insect parts near walls, windowsills, or baseboards are dead giveaways, but make sure you’re identifying these correctly, as other wood-boring pests, like wood-boring beetles or termites, also produce frass.
- Rustling Sounds: If you hear faint rustling noises inside your walls at night, don’t dismiss it as your imagination. Carpenter ants are nocturnal workers so this might be when you’re most likely to detect them.
- Hollow Wood: Tap on wooden structures (like beams or furniture). If they sound hollow, carpenter ants may have tunneled inside. Again, this can be a sign of another pest, like a termite, so get a second opinion.
If you find a carpenter ant inside your home, especially winged carpenter ants, you should get a pest control inspection. While it can take years for carpenter ants to significantly damage your home, they may have already had those years.
Why Carpenter Ants in Salem Are a Big Problem
One of the most common questions you’ll hear about these kinds of pests is, “do carpenter ants in Salem eat wood?”
The short, easy answer is no. Carpenter ants do not eat wood—but boy, do they know how to destroy it. They burrow, chew, and leave a big mess behind. Over time, their relentless tunneling can weaken the structural integrity of your home.
Carpenter ants cause extensive structural damage on their own, but are often drawn to homes with existing moisture problems or wood damage. This means they can quickly make an existing problem much, much worse.
And while they’re particularly fond of softwood (moist or rotting wood), they don’t stop there. If they exhaust their favorite hangout spots, they’ll move into sound, healthy wood and cause even more significant damage to the rest of your home.
Because of these habits, one of the key telltale signs of a carpenter ant infestation is “frass.” Frass is the mixture of wood shavings, insect parts, and fecal matter they kick out of their tunnels.
You might find frass near tiny kick-out holes or hidden in wall voids. However, here’s the twist—because carpenter ants often prefer wall voids and rarely saunter through your pantry, you might not notice them or their frass until substantial damage has already been done.
What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?
So if they don’t eat wood, what do carpenter ants in Salem actually eat, then?
Many people believe that they’ll know they have a carpenter ant infestation when these ants start getting into their kitchen or pantry foods, but carpenter ants don’t prefer to forage in your cabinets for food.
Carpenter ants have more refined palates. Their favorite treat is honeydew, a sugary substance produced by aphids. They typically eat outside, where they corral aphids on plants to farm them for honeydew—a behavior that sounds admirably clever until you realize they’re still destroying your home at night.
Why does understanding their diet matter? It’s simple—if they’re happily feasting outdoors, you might not notice them indoors. Carpenter ants can thrive inside walls without raiding your food storage, meaning you’ll need to be extra-vigilant when it comes to identifying and preventing them in your home.
Do Carpenter Ants Bite?
Yes. Carpenter ants can bite you if you disturb their nest, as they’re equipped with powerful mandibles.
To add insult to injury, they also have the ability to spray formic acid into those little bite wounds. The good news is that carpenter ants don’t seek you out to bite you, like a fire ant will.
Why is this important to know? No one wants to be bitten by any kind of pests. If you suspect you have carpenter ants in your walls, you might want to consider having a professional pest control technician come and do an inspection for you.
How to Prevent Carpenter Ant Infestations
While DIY methods aren’t always effective at getting rid of existing carpenter ant problems, they can help them from becoming an issue in the first place. Here are some suggestions:
Eliminate Moisture Issues
As we mentioned earlier, carpenter ants are attracted to damp or decaying wood. Repair any leaks in plumbing, roofs, or windows promptly and use dehumidifiers in high-humidity areas like basements or crawl spaces.
Seal Entry Points
Inspect your home for cracks, holes, or gaps in foundations, walls, and around utility lines. Seal these openings using caulk or other appropriate materials to deny ants access.
Remove Wood Debris
Avoid storing firewood, lumber, or similar materials near your home, as they can serve as breeding grounds for carpenter ants. Keep woodpiles elevated and at least 20 feet away from your house.
Trim Vegetation
Branches and shrubs in contact with your home can act as bridges for ants. Regularly trim vegetation to create a gap between your home and plants.
Conduct Regular Inspections
Routinely check decks, fences, and other wooden elements around your property for signs of damage or decay. Replacing or treating compromised wood can deter infestations.
How Kanga Pest Control Kicks Carpenter Ants to the Curb
You might be tempted to go full DIY and grab whatever spray or powder the Internet recommends, but hold up. Addressing carpenter ants requires precision and expertise—not to mention a solid knowledge of Salem’s local pest behavior. That’s where we come in.
At Kanga Pest Control, we’re all about identifying and resolving pest issues efficiently. When you call us for a carpenter ant inspection, we’ll pinpoint the root of the problem, formulate a tailored treatment plan, and help prevent future infestations.
Not sure if you’re dealing with carpenter ants or their other sneaky look-alikes? No problem. Our expert technicians will inspect your property and provide insights on how to safeguard your home from pests year-round.
When it comes to carpenter ants, time isn’t on your side, but we are. Reach out to us for an inspection today, and say goodbye to those homewrecking ants before they turn your dream home into a DIY disaster zone.
Trust us—you’ll sleep better knowing we’ve got it under control.
