Carpenter ants get their name from the fact that they excavate wood to make their nests. These ants do not eat wood; they chew through it to form smooth tunnels. This ant species can be found throughout Australia.
What Is Carpenter Ants?
The coastal brown ants are tiny, light brown ants, having shiny dark brown abdomens. The minor workers are 2-3mm long, while the major ants are 3.5-4.5mm long. These major ants have much larger heads than their bodies and make up 1 per cent of the population.
The major or soldier worker ants aren’t defensive but have powerful jaws that they use to cut large pieces of food into smaller, easy-to-carry pieces. These ants have no odour when crushed.
Carpenter ants create nests in wood sources like tree stumps, rotting fence posts, old firewood, and under stones. The main colony they built is located outside, with the queen, eggs, and young resting. The workers, mature larvae, and pupae live in satellite nests that branch out from the main colony. Satellite nests can be built indoors or outdoors after the main colony matures over multiple years.
Winged males and females mate during a brief flight, after which the male dies, and the queen sheds her wings and looks for a suitable nesting site.
The queen prefers to nest in soft, moist wood of hollow trees, logs, or stumps. In her nest, the queen lays about 20 eggs that transform into adults (workers) in approximately 2 months.
The workers of the first brood are tiny as they receive nourishment from the food reserves stored in the queen’s body. The successive broods are bigger as they receive enough food from foraging workers.
Once the workers become adults, they take up the responsibility of foraging food, enlarging the nest, and feeding and looking after the queen and subsequent larvae. These ants live on dead insects, small invertebrates, and honeydew secreted by scale insects and aphids.
Eating Habits
Carpenter ants eat plants, insects, honeydew, meats, sweets, and grease. The worker ants of this species are known to forage up to 300 feet from their nest. They stay active during the daytime, before dusk until dawn.
Signs of Carpenter Ant Infestation
A significant indicator of a carpenter’s ant infestation can be sighting large, wingless, black-coloured ants on your property. However, finding these ants indoors doesn’t confirm the presence of their nests indoors. Instead, the nest might be located outside your home, and the foraging workers enter inside searching for food and water. These workers feed on foods rich in sugar and fat, and meats.
Carpenter Ant Extermination Expert
The exterminators at Tom’s Pest Control have the knowledge and expertise to remove ant infestations effectively. We are responsible for identifying the correct species of ants, determining their entry points, and creating an integrated plan for long-term control and prevention. Our pest inspection services are tailored to your situation so that every property owner can expect a positive outcome.
We understand the importance of keeping your property safe and pest-free, so we work hard to provide safe solutions for your specific needs. Our expert technicians can fulfil your requirements whether you need a one-time pest control service or ongoing assistance.
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Tom’s Pest Control Melbourne is the answer to all your pest control needs. Our team of expert exterminators are licensed, bonded and insured so you can trust in their dependability.
We will provide you with a free quote and guarantee that we will get the job done right, the first time around. Whether it’s insect or Ant infestations, Tom’s Pest Control has you covered.
Don’t wait any longer; contact us now for a free quote and let us take care of your pest control problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Prevent Carpenter Ants?
Carpenter ants cannot survive without water. Hence, removing standing water or sources of moisture from your home can prevent carpenter ants from entering your home. In addition, it would help if you sealed all cracks and openings near the doors and windows to restrict their entry. Finally, since these ants like to build nests in moist wood, it is best to store firewood and other building materials away from your property.
Do Carpenter Ants Bite?
Carpenter ants have powerful jaws, which makes their bites painful. They also inject formic acid when biting, which may lead to a burning sensation. So while a carpenter’s ant bite can be painful, it isn’t dangerous.
How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants?
If you suspect an ant infestation on your property, you need to contact a licensed pest control professional like Tom’s Pest Control to handle the issue. Our experts can assess the situation and suggest the most suitable method of removing carpenter ants.