Ants
Carpenter Ants
French name carpentier ants
English name Carpenter Ants
Latin name Camponotus spp
Carpenter ants
The red carpenter ant and the black wood ant are among the most common carpenter ant species in Canada. The carpenter ant is a social insect that lives in an anthill with a well-established hierarchical order: queen, worker, warrior. Unlike termites, the ant is not xylophagous, that is to say it does not eat wood but it digs galleries and causes serious damage to homes.
The body of the red carpenter ant is blackish with a thorax tinted with red or brown. The black wood ant is uniformly black with tints of brown.
The carpenter ant measures between 6 and 25 mm in length (0.24 to 1 inch). Its body is divided into three parts, one of which tapers into a very thin waist. Its antennae are arcuate and segmented. Both male and female adults are winged at the time of mating.
The first signs of a carpenter ant infestation
The sign that is probably the clearest is when we visually notice the presence of ants, when they are looking for food and water. In spring, during reproduction, we can also see winged ants. We can also see sawdust on the ground, often at the entrance to the anthill.
In spring, when we see winged ants in the house. They emerge from the walls through framing joints or small cracks.
When we notice the recurring presence of sawdust in specific places, which may indicate the entrance of the colony.
Development and life cycle
Inside a nest there is only one queen who lays eggs. It generally mates only once during its life. When she founds a colony, she cares for and feeds the first litter of workers herself. As soon as the workers are able to work, the queen only takes care of laying eggs.
The eggs take 24 days to hatch. The pupal stage lasts 21 days and the full cycle is approximately 9 weeks.
How to Get Rid of a Carpenter Ant Infestation
You must first know that a colony has several nests which we call “satellites”. However, the main nest which contains the queen must be destroyed. Most of the time, the main nest is outside the house, in a wooden fence, in a pile of firewood, under a wooden structure that is in contact with the ground or in a tree stump. TREE
Eliminate all sources of water infiltration, whether on the roof or in cracks in the foundations.
Get rid of any wood debris that may be near the house and avoid storing large pieces of wood directly resting on the foundation.
Check the condition of landscaping elements (such as decorative bark mulch, retaining walls and driftwood pieces).
In case of infestation or large scale, call Sherif at (514) 476 – 8184 we are specialized in extermination and certified by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change.