Carpenter ants are menacing ants that make bad house guests. It’s natural for homeowners to fear that carpenter ants sting. However, these pests do not sting. Instead, they may bite humans when they feel threatened.
Can Carpenter Ants Sting?
Carpenter ants are large, black ants that are bigger than other common ant species, so it’s normal to wonder if carpenter ants sting. Carpenter ants cannot sting, but they can bite.
However, getting bitten by a carpenter ant is a rare experience. These pests are not aggressive by nature, and they do their best to avoid contact with humans. Carpenter ants only bite in self-defense when they feel threatened, which may occur if you attempt to handle them or disturb their nest.
If you get bitten by a carpenter ant, it’s reassuring to know that their bites are typically not harmful. You may experience mild discomfort and burning, but it typically goes away on its own.
To lessen your discomfort, you should wash the area that got bitten with mild soap and apply a cold compress or ice to reduce pain and swelling.
Carpenter Ants’ Real Damage
If you have carpenter ants in your home, you don’t need to waste time worrying about getting stung or bitten by one. Instead, you should consider the damage they can do to your home. Carpenter ants get their name because they burrow into wood to create their nests.
When this occurs in your home, carpenter ants can damage your home’s structural integrity. The damage occurs slowly over time, and it can turn into advanced damage before you notice it.
Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat through wood. Instead, they cause damage by burrowing through the wood and creating tunnels. They carve tunnels that the ant colony can move through, which causes the wood to weaken.
Common places that carpenter ants like to infest inside the home are floorboards, beams and wooden furniture. When an advanced carpenter ant infestation is left untreated, it can cause damage.
Along with structural damage to your home, a carpenter ant infestation can contaminate your food. What do carpenter ants eat? These pests are attracted to sweet and greasy foods and may find their way into your pantry. To avoid this, keep your food in airtight containers and do not leave exposed food out on your counters.
The most efficient way to deal with a carpenter ant infestation is to contact a local pest control service. The experts can identify the carpenter ant nest and control the population before they damage your home.
If you suspect carpenter ants have taken up residence in your wood structures, take action. Do not hesitate to reach out to a pest control professional.
How to Find a Queen Carpenter Ant?
Like many ant species, carpenter ant colonies have a queen responsible for reproducing and growing the colony. It’s the job of the rest of the colony to protect the queen so that the colony can continue to expand. Because of this, it’s rare to see a queen carpenter ant.
Queen carpenter ants are highly protected inside their nests. Carpenter ants build their nests in wooden structures or beams by carving tunnels. To keep the queen carpenter ants safe, worker carpenter ants carve deep, hidden tunnels that are difficult to access.
The queen carpenter ant rarely leaves her protective nest. On the other hand, worker carpenter ants regularly leave the nest to forage for food.
While finding a queen ant is difficult, especially for the carpenter ant species, it’s not impossible. Understanding carpenter ant behavior can go a long way in locating a queen ant.
For example, carpenter ants gravitate to damp, rotten or decaying wood because it’s easier to excavate. This is the first place to look if you want to locate a queen carpenter ant. Fallen logs, tree stumps and firewood piles are popular carpenter ant homes.
When carpenter ants infest homes, they are attracted to moisture-damaged wood. The wood around your windows, doors, porches or decks are prime spots for a carpenter ant infestation.
Another place to spot a carpenter ant nest is inside wall voids and structural gaps in your home. For example, they may set up satellite nests in the crevices of floors, walls and ceilings. The satellite nests usually connect to the queen ant’s main nest.
Signs of a Carpenter Ant Infestation
Since you’ll likely never see a queen carpenter ant, it’s more important to look out for the signs of a carpenter ant infestation. Remember, since these pests burrow deeply into wood, they can cause significant damage before you know they’re there.
Paying attention to the signs of a carpenter ant infestation may help you catch the problem early and avoid further damage.
The first sign of these pests is frass, which is the sawdust-like debris that they leave behind as they carve tunnels in wood. You’ll most likely spot frass on or near the surface of wood.
Next, carpenter ants produce an audible rustling sound as they work. You may hear it coming from the inside of your walls or beams.
Finally, the most common type of carpenter ant to spot is the winged carpenter ant. This type of carpenter ant is responsible for leaving the nest to mate and form new colonies. If you see winged carpenter ants in your home, it often means that a larger colony is nearby.
It’s important to take these signs of carpenter ants seriously. These pests can cause significant and expensive damage to your home, so it’s essential to control them as soon as possible. Reach out to a local pest control company to make a plan to control your carpenter ant infestation.
Will Ants Bite Me in My Sleep?
If you have ants in your home, it’s disturbing to think about them biting you in your sleep. Unfortunately, it can happen. Many ant species are attracted to body warmth and sweat, especially if your sheets are unclean. Any food particles left in your bed can also draw them to you.
If you wake up with unexplainable itchy spots or red bumps, they could be ant bites. Most ant species are not aggressive, but they may bite you while foraging in your bed for food. They may also bite if they feel threatened by you. However, if you wake up with bites, it is more likely that you are dealing with another type of pest, such as bed bugs.
Fire ants, carpenter ants and sugar ants are the ants most likely to bite humans. Fire ants bite, sting and are known for causing significant pain. Carpenter ants do not sting, but they may bite when provoked. However, they prefer to avoid humans. Sugar ants are small ants that are highly attracted to food residue. Their bites are not painful.
How to Deter Ants From Your Bedroom
The best way to keep ants out of your bedroom and avoid nighttime bites is to clean your room on a regular basis. Washing your bedding, vacuuming the floor and wiping down surfaces can go a long way in keeping ants away.
Keeping food and drinks out of your bedroom will also help since ants are attracted to crumbs and spills. If you do eat and drink in your bedroom, clean the area right away.
Cracks, gaps or holes in your walls are easy entry points for ants, so it’s important to seal up these areas with caulk.
The best way to deal with an ant infestation in your bedroom is to call in a pest control professional.
Kick Carpenter Ants Out of Your Home
Carpenter ants are pests that can cause damage to your home. While their bites are not that worrisome, it’s still important to act on a carpenter ant infestation.
The best way to control these pests is to work with a pest control company. They have the tools and expertise to control these pests. They can help you control all types of ants, including red fire ants.
ABC Can Treat the Carpenter Ants on Your Property
If you’re dealing with carpenter ants, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our professionals will create a custom ant treatment plan for your property. We even offer preventive pest control services so that any potential pest problems will be stopped in their tracks.
