Pest Expert Overview: Carpenter Ants in Bryan & College Station
There are 14 species of Carpenter Ant found in Texas. The species most commonly found in College Station areas have a red thorax and head and a black abdomen. They are similar in appearance to fire ants but much larger, up to ½ inch in length. Occasionally, we see a species that is solid black and one that is solid red. Both are quite large and easy to identify as carpenter ants. Carpenter ants nest in wood. Their presence may become known when they dump wood shavings and debris from their nest, also called frass, inside your house.
Carpenter ants are in the genus Camponotus. They belong to the Order Hymenoptera and the Family Formicidae. There are over 1,000 species found throughout the forested areas of the world.
Life Cycle
Like other ants, Carpenter ants have a reproductive swarm where newly produced winged Kings and Queens leave the colony to mate with those from other colonies. In Texas, Carpenter ants usually swarm in January, February, or March. Rain usually triggers these ants to swarm over a large area at the same time. Mated females will attempt to establish new colonies. Carpenter ant colonies can grow as large as 10,000 ants after 3 to 5 years..
Carpenter ant Queens can live for 10 years. Workers may live up to 7 years in good conditions. Male ants are only produced for swarms and die soon after mating.
Why are they Pests?
Carpenter ants are omnivores. They feed on insects, fungus, honeydew, plant nectar, and even some fruit. They don’t sting, but their bite can be slightly painful on sensitive areas of the skin because of their powerful mandibles. Their pest status comes from their wood nesting behavior. As their colony grows, they can cause some damage to the wood in your home. We find that this damage is usually superficial. However, the damage may become significant after several years.
Carpenter Ant Prevention
Carpenter ants prefer wood with a high moisture content to start their colonies. Once established, they can move into sound wood. That means it’s important to replace any moisture damaged wood on your house to prevent infestation. Also, keeping limbs and foliage away from your house reduces moisture and eliminates a potential travel route for ants.
Professional Carpenter Ant Control
If you are dealing with an infestation of carpenter ants, Venus Pest Company can help. Founded by Aggie Entomologist Dr. Scott Lingren, we provide expert, eco-friendly Integrated Pest Management solutions in Bryan and College Station. To get started, fill out the contact form, call/text 979.774.0486 or email [email protected]. Don’t let nuisance pests take over your home!
