Problems caused by Carpenter Ants
Most species of ants are considered pests, but some deserve the reputation more fully than others. Fire ants are probably the worst kind of ant pest as far as their general evilness goes, but carpenter ants sit solidly in the middle, just above sugar ants. Let’s take a look at what it is about carpenter ants that qualify them as pests.
* No one likes to see ants. The first thing to look at when it comes to the carpenter ant is the same pest quality that applies to all ant species; ants have their place, but they are not in the home. No one likes to see a troop of ants going across their basement floor or around their windowsills, and all ants seem to have a way of finding any food you may have lying around, including fruit.
* They pose a risk to structural integrity in your home. Carpenter ants have very strong jaws which are adapted to their preferred environment, which is wood. They like damp and dark wood to live in. It’s important to note that these ants do not eat wood as termites do; instead they grind it up as they extend their nests. These industrious are capable of doing enough damage to threaten the structure of a home itself, but the damage is caused slowly enough that it does not put the house in danger for a great while. Still, the tunnels and honeycombs that the ants cause in the house allow other problems to come in, particularly once the ants vacate or are destroyed. Mildew and water can now find their way into the wooden structure, causing mold and rot which will weaken the building even more. It can be very expensive to replace the wood that carpenter ants hew as they live, and this process often involves buying whole new studs, tresses, and so on.
* Carpenter ant damage is not pretty. In addition to the sight of the ants themselves, the damage that carpenter ants cause can significantly reduce the value of the home. While carpenter ants may not cause quite the amount of damage, so quickly, that they are popularly believed to, real estate value is all about perception. If potential buyers see the signs of carpenter ants or are told about them through an inspector, you can expect the value of the house to go down. In effect, as the carpenter ants eat away at your wood, they are also eating away at your investment.
These are the reasons why carpenter ants are commonly regarded as pests. They are fairly easy to get rid of, though, and an infestation can be taken care of using integrated pest management procedures as outlined in another article on this site. One should also not look over the potential benefits of having carpenter ants around; they are voracious enemies of termites and valuable when it comes to limiting numbers of this other pest that poses a danger to houses.