Simply having an outbreak of ants and having widespread rampant infestations within your home are indeed two very separate things. Ants are not usually dangerous to human beings, but they can become an overwhelming nuisance once they create infestations in the home, usually in kitchens and bathrooms. Carpenter ants are a bit of a different matter altogether; these ants live inside of wood and will tunnel through and destroy wood inside of the home if a colony is allowed to multiply. If you frequently find these warning signs, contact an ant exterminator professional in Hamilton for an inspection to verify ant infestations. There are many different types of ants throughout Canada that can cause infestations within homes; therefore, it is important to know how different species infest homes.
Carpenter ants will typically enter homes by way of cracks around window seals or doors, which is made much easier for them if these entryways are left open for long periods of time. Worker carpenter ants will typically be on the move throughout the day searching for attractive spaces to establish a new colony. Moisture and decaying matter (such as food particles), along with sugary liquids are the primary substances that will be picked up by carpenter ant antenna.
Once worker carpenter ants have picked up a scent, they will then enter a home or continue foraging around porches and even roofs to find a suitable piece of wood to begin the infestation process. Due to Toronto’s plentiful population and climate, carpenter ants will be active in the area from spring until late fall. You can generally find them in areas of your home composed of wood that is close to the point of entry, such as window seals and the wood around door frames. Infestations can become quite severe, very quickly. Immediately contact a pest control professional to address an infestation.
Other types of ants in Canada common to cause infestations to include citronella ants, argentine ants, little black ants, and pavement ants. These ants species are less prone to cause extensive infestations like the carpenter ant. More likely, these types of ants will possibly infest corners, behind walls, and even potted plants if they choose to form an infestation indoors at all. With these species of ants, the infestation is likely to be outdoors, but rampant amounts of ants are coming indoors to partake in what is likely readily available food and moisture, which they need for survival.
No matter the type of ant or infestation, DIY measures are virtually useless against carpenter ants and will also not go very far with other types of ants either. If carpenter ants are left undisturbed, overflows from a crowded colony may start to branch out deep into a home seeking wood structures to forage through. Many Canadian homeowners sometimes mistake carpenter ant colonies for termite colonies. The types of infestations can be confusing, which can be remedied by consulting with an Exterminator Hamilton immediately.