Carpenter ants are one of the most perilous types of pest to have in your home. Although they don’t sting like fire ants and don’t carry serious diseases like rodents, they can cause significant damage to your home by burrowing through the wood. They can destroy internal wood structures that hold your home together and can weaken door and window frames. In many cases, the damage is in places that cannot be reached and therefore cannot be easily repaired.

If you have a carpenter ant infestation in your house, it’s important that you contact an experienced pest control professional as soon as possible to eliminate the infestation before permanent damage is done. Here are the signs you may have a carpenter ant problem.

1. Sounds of Rustling in the Walls
   Mice and birds aren’t the only pests that can create a rustling sound that comes from inside your walls. Carpenter ants do too as they burrow through wood, but the sound may be much more faint unless the infestation is severe.
2. Carpenter Ant Wings Around Windowsills
   Carpenter ants will swarm during certain times of the year and when they do, you will typically see their shed wings piled up around the window frames of your house. You may also see the wings around vents in your floor if you have a central heating and air system, or around your baseboards. Swarming occurs in spring or summer, so you’ll want to be vigilant and inspect your home for shed ant wings during that time.
3. Wood Structures in Your Home That Sound Hollow
   If you have window or door frames that sound hollow when you tap on them, this could be a sign that carpenter ants are tunneling into the wood. Compare the sound with similar framing that is not infested.
4. Wood That Is Easily Penetrated by a Knife
   If you find it difficult to determine if wood sounds hollow or not, you can also try penetrating the wood with a knife. A paring knife or a pocket knife will work well. If carpenter ants have hollowed out the wood, you’ll be able to easily slip the knife into the wood. If you cannot, it’s less likely that you have a carpenter ant infestation.
5. Piles of Sawdust Around Your Home
   Perhaps the most telling indicator of a carpenter ant infestation is small piles of sawdust around your home, namely around door frames, windowsills, vents, and baseboards. If you come across small piles of sawdust randomly in your house, there’s a good bet that you have a carpenter ant problem.

If you notice signs of a carpenter ant infestation, it’s important to contact a pest control professional as soon as possible. At Colonial Pest, we have been serving the Massachusetts and New Hampshire areas since 1984. We can help you determine if you do, in fact, have a carpenter ant problem and we can help you eliminate these pests with safe, state-of-the-art treatments. We can also help you identify and seal potential points of entry to prevent future infestations. Contact us today to learn more by calling 1-800-525-8084 for a free quote.