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Carpenter ants are members of the insect order hymenoptera. This is the same order to which bees, wasps and hornets belong. Ants are social insects living together in cooperating communities characterized by a division of labor - reproductives, workers, soldiers, foragers, etc - and care of their young.
There is usually only one queen in a carpenter ant colony, although large colonies may have multiple queens. Her sole function is to lay eggs. These usually hatch to become sterile, wingless females which are the workers. Major workers (about 1/2" in size) are the most commonly seen ants. These serve as foragers and soldiers. Workers have been known to travel as far as 100 yards from the nest.
Minor workers, which measure about 1/4" in size, are much less seen, although they will forage for food. They also clean and feed the eggs, larvae and the queen.
When a colony reaches maximum size, the female starts producing eggs that become fertile females and males. These are the reproductive swarmers that usually occur in the spring. The female swarmers are very large, sometimes an inch or more in length. They have but one function in life. After mating the female will find a place to lay her eggs, begin a new colony and start the cycle all over again.
Generally, a colony can reach maturity in anywhere from 3-6 years and contains 4,000 ants. Carpenter ant colonies can be established inside a home or outdoors. A thorough inspection of the entire house and property is a must. In homes, look for moisture prone areas such as around window sills, bay windows, sink areas, and dishwashers. In basements it is not uncommon to find carpenter ants entering or even nesting between or beneath the sill plates of the behind header joists.
Outside, look for ant activity around the perimeter of the house, tree trunks, or other areas where ants may be nesting or foraging.
The key to successful carpenter ant control is a careful, thorough inspection to find and eliminate the colony. This is particularly important since more than one colony can occur in the same structure.
Richard Johnstone has 20 years experience dealing with carpenter ants. If you have any questions call 250 751-4393 and he will be glad to help you out. |
