People can have a hard time dealing with a black ant infestation because these insects do not give up easily.
Ants in my attic.
It s important to note that the carpenter ants do not eat wood but are attracted to damp wood.
These ants are reddish brown and about 1 8 inch long and run erratically.
Like all ants black ants are very intelligent and they can be problematic when your house becomes infested.
Ants generally prefer damp areas such as framing or flooring that s soft and spongy from a plumbing or roof leak.
However they have a rotten coconut odor when crushed.
Along with red ants black ants are the dominant species of ants in the united states.
With rotting damp wood that is normally found near the roof penetration your attic offers sustenance to carpenter ants.
Attics bathrooms and exterior walls are obvious candidates.
These products are used to control insect infestations in many homes and office settings.
I would defiantly take a closer look at these ants.
Ants usually live in wood or soil outside the house and only march into your house to gather food particularly during the spring and summer.
Brown or black and about 1 8 inch long odorous ants look unassuming.
Dealing with ants can be incredibly frustrating the individuals are tiny but their communities are large so getting rid of one wave of invaders doesn t keep more from sneaking in.
Cut small holes in water damaged walls to track down the ant nest.
Dry wood termites on the other hand look a lot like ants and would have more reason to be in your attic.
So what exactly attract carpenter ants to your attic.
Your attic is an ideal buffet.
Carpenter ants prefer to nest in structural lumber such as in wall voids hollow doors windows and foam panels.
Indoor infestations can be tracked by points of entry such as attic vents foundations cracks electric wires pipes and telephone lines.
The vent pipes skylights and chimneys are areas ants can thrive building their nest from the wood available.
It sounds a bit out of character for ants to be in your attic they generally only are found in places that have a food source of some type.
How to get rid of ants begins by looking for areas with water damage.
While it would be unusual to have an entire colony in your attic it is not unheard of.
Your attic could harbor insects such as roaches.
Bug bombs are also known as total release foggers.
Carpenter ants typically seek wood that has been softened by moisture decay or other insects.
The good news here is that the ants are visible to you and they are still going outdoors to forage which means they will walk through areas that that you treat outdoors.
Ants will build nests where ever they can find a suitable area to do so.
