Earlier this spring we blogged about the early sightings of carpenter ants in homes throughout the Upper Midwest; we told you not to panic….but now that the temperature has risen considerably, new sightings may be more than just hot spots of activity. This spring Plunkett’s Pest Control has received numerous calls from homeowners in Bettendorf, Moline and elsewhere in the Quad Cities and throughout the Upper Midwest looking for help with carpenter ants they have seen foraging around their kitchens, bathrooms and basements. If you too think you may have seen these damaging ants, Plunkett’s is ready to help! Once carpenter ants have been awakened from their winter slumber, they are hungry and will search for food and moisture. Carpenter ants do not use wood for food, like termites, they actually prefer to eat proteins and sweets, like most other species of ants and can contaminate our food sources with their droppings when they make their way into our cupboards. They are considered damaging when they tunnel their way through wood in order to make their nests. This activity can seriously damage the structural integrity of our homes. Inside their nests are generally located near sources of moisture such as:
- Under bathtubs or hot tubs
- Behind wall voids, especially where seepage is present
- Under window and door frames
- Under appliances, especially dishwashers
- Piles of wood debris (sawdust) or dead ants expelled from the colony
- Swarmers, often trapped in spider webs or dead on window sills
- Damaged wood surfaces and timbers