Serving Memphis, Cordova, Germantown & Collierville TN
Are you noticing evidence of wood damage in your home? You may think termites are the culprits, but termites are not the only type of pest that can do damage to wooden structures. In this article, your professional pest experts in Memphis at AAA Termite & Pest Control will explain the differences between termites and carpenter ants.
Signs of a carpenter ant infestation
Many of the signs of wood damage or infestation from carpenter ants are the same as for termites. Both termites and carpenter ants produce what’s known as frass—discarded excrement that looks like wood shavings. Carpenter ants also create tunnels like termites. Look for holes in these tunnels, which ants use to travel to the surface, or large piles of uneaten wood at the entry points of the tunnels.
Other signs of carpenter ant damage or infestation include:
- Hearing scurrying or rustling sounds inside the walls or woodwork of your home
- Wood that seems strangely clean and well-polished
- Flying ants emerging from the walls of your home in the spring
- An abnormal concentration of ants in your home
What do carpenter ants look like?
Carpenter ants are large, usually black in color but sometimes with a red or yellow hue. Worker ants have large jaws. It’s also important to note that just because you see a carpenter ant in your home or on your property, that doesn’t mean you’re dealing with an infestation. Flying carpenter ants can travel up to a few miles away from their nest.
While carpenter ants can damage wood just like termites can, the type of damage these ants do is different. Carpenter ants, unlike termites, don’t feed on the wood; instead, they burrow into it.
Signs of a termite infestation
Generally speaking, carpenter ants are more visible than termites. By the time any termites become visible in your home, you’re already dealing with an infestation. Termites live and move underground; some worker termites may spend their entire life breaking down wood and eating it. They can infiltrate your walls, flooring, and your insulation without realizing it. They can consume your home from the inside out. These little pests do billions of dollars of property damage every year.
Signs of termite damage may include:
- Drywall that droops or is discolored
- Areas of peeling paint that look similar to water damage
- Areas of wood that sound hollow when you tap or knock on them
- Buckling floors
- Loose tiles, due to the additional moisture from the presence of the termites
Pest Control Services in Memphis and Cordova, Tennessee
Carpenter ants and termites might both damage the wood in your home but removing them and treating them are two very different processes. If you have termites, you want to trust your pest control to a trained, professional technician. Likewise, for ants, a pest control professional will have tools, solutions, and knowledge that most homeowners simply lack. At AAA Termite & Pest Control, we can treat ants, termites, and any other pests that may be infesting your home or that have you concerned.
To find out more about our services, call (901) 737-7378 to schedule a consultation with one of our expert technicians.