If you've never dealt with carpenter ants, you may be under the impression that ants are pretty much the same across species. Carpenter ants aren't that different in appearance from other ants, so it's possible to overlook them if you don't look too closely. Unfortunately, this ant species is one of the most destructive pests that can pop up in your yard and home. For more information about carpenter ants, the kind of damage they can do, and carpenter ant treatment with pest control in Orlando, continue reading.

What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?

Florida's residents are not likely to see reddish-yellow then black carpenter ants in their homes. Regardless of the species or coloration, the most prominent characteristics of a carpenter ant are its large size and broad head, and visible jaws.

Carpenter ants in Orlando, like termites, form colonies made up of a caste system. This means that if you spot a colony, you will see variation between the different castes. Reproductives will have wings, the queen will be easily twice the size of the others, and the worker will be small with large jaws.

The Florida carpenter ant workers have dark red or black abdomens with visible hairs, where the rest of their body may be orangish-red. Florida carpenter ants, unlike black carpenter ants, don't burrow into your wood themselves. They may seek out existing voids and will focus only on soft and rotting wood or styrofoam. While they are not likely to cause the kind of damage that black carpenter ants do, they can and will bite.

How To Tell If Carpenter Ants Are In Your Home

Carpenter ants can be hard to see as they burrow into and live in the wood. However, if you think you may have a carpenter ant problem, look out for these signs of carpenter ants in your house:

• Carpenter ant frass in your home that looks like piles of sawdust with pieces of insects

• Winged ants near cracks and crevices

• Rustling noises inside the walls or woodwork

• Galleries in the wood that are smooth and clean of debris

Black carpenter ants can destroy wood a lot more effectively than our native Florida carpenter ants. While Florida carpenter ants are not an inconsequential threat, they are much more likely to be found in wood that's already damaged and rotten from water damage. If you fear a carpenter ant infestation, look in places with previously-established weathering first.

One of the ways carpenter ant colonies establish themselves in your home is by traveling from other rotting wood in your yard, including tree stumps and dying trees. One of the best ways to prevent a carpenter ant problem from establishing itself in your home is by checking to see if there are carpenter ants in trees around the yard.

How Much Damage Can Carpenter Ants Do To Your Home?

Carpenter ants in other parts of the world can become serious issues for a home's structural integrity. However, the Florida carpenter ant is not likely to infest healthy wood. You are more at risk of a carpenter ant infestation in Florida if you live in an old home, one that hurricanes have damaged, or if you live near the coast and have rotting wooden exteriors or a deck that needs to be replaced. Rotting wood can expedite the damage carpenter ants cause in Florida and increase property damage.

How To Deter Carpenter Ants In Orlando

The best way to deter carpenter ants is to take good care of your exterior wood by replacing rotting or water-damaged pieces. Don't leave tree stumps or other lawn decorations past their expiration, either. However, if you find yourself with a carpenter ant problem, you may be left with no choice but to call for professional carpenter ant treatment.

To get rid of carpenter ants in or around your home, you can trust Green Flag Services. After providing your free quote, we will provide an initial inspection to identify your risks and develop a treatment plan. We can also promise eco-friendly, fast, and effective service to protect your home and the natural beauty of your surroundings.

At Green Flag Services, our five-step process guarantees a pest-free home, or we'll come back and treat it again for free. Call Green Flag Services for guaranteed pest control and guidance for protecting your home for years to come.