What You Need to Know About the Florida Carpenter Ant

What Is the Florida Carpenter Ant?

As the name implies, the Florida carpenter ant is one of the many types of carpenter ants that inhabit North America. More specifically, this ant is common to Florida (as well as North Carolina and into Louisiana).

If you're not sure whether the ants in your home are Florida carpenter ants, this pest:

• Is about 13 mm long . According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the adults Florida carpenter ant ranges in size from six to 13 mm long.
• Has larger females . The winged females of the species can reach up to 20 mm long, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension.
• Has a reddish-yellow color . The Florida carpenter ant has a reddish-yellow or rust-colored thorax. This pest also has a black abdomen and elbowed antennae.

Even though these pests do have a distinctive appearance, they're still easy to confuse with other common ant invaders. If you're not sure whether the ants in your home are Florida carpenter ants or another species, contact a pest control professional for accurate identification.

What Type of Problems Can This Pest Cause?

Like other carpenter ants, this unwelcome invader can make its way into your home and destroy the wooden parts of your property's structure. While carpenter ants don't eat wood (in the same way termites do), these pests remove sections of wood to make their nests inside your home.

In a home, the Florida carpenter ant can:

• Weaken wood supports . As they nest in your walls, this type of any can weaken beams and other supports. This can lead to serious structural problems that could threaten the integrity of your home. Prompt treatment is the easiest way to reduce this type of risk.
• Cause aesthetic issues . Your home's wooden interior may have visible damage. Along with weakening structural areas, a carpenter ant invasion can also lead to aesthetic issues that require pricey repairs.
• Invade other areas . Even though the ants regularly nest in wooden areas of homes (or outside of homes), they don't eat this material. Instead, the pests feast on plants, fruits, meats, greases, and other similar food debris. This means the ants may make their way into your home to eat.

If you spot a potential Florida carpenter ant invasion, call the pest control professional immediately to avoid further damage.

How Should You Eliminate Florida Carpenter Ants?

Ant extermination isn't a do-it-yourself job. Even though you can buy a variety of commercially prepared products online or in home improvement stores, these ant control measures may not get the job done. A professional pest control expert can:

• Inspect your home . These ants may hide in the walls, making them hard to find. A pest control professional knows how to locate an ant infestation.
• Create a treatment plan . The pest control professional will determine the extent of the ant issue and create a treatment plan that meets the needs of your home.
• Use ant control safely and effectively . The professional exterminator has the expertise and experience needed to safely and effectively use chemical ant control in a residential structure.

Repeat routine maintenance. Even though professional extermination is an effective way to eliminate Florida carpenter ants, your home may have a re-infestation. The pest control contractor can suggest a routine treatment plan for regular maintenance.

These ants won't go away on their own. The longer you wait to call the professional, the more likely the problem will grow.

Do you have carpenter ants in your home? Contact Gainesville Pest Control LLC for more information.