04/17/2025
As the warmer weather approaches, you may see an increase in wood destroying insect activity. Both carpenter ants and termites can cause serious damage to your home, but they do it in very different ways.
Carpenter ants are large black ants who don’t eat wood, but excavate it to build their gallery. They prefer moist or rotting wood, and their tunnels are smooth and clean. You’ll often find piles of sawdust (called frass) near the entrance of their tunnels. An example of the tunnels and frass appear on the left side of the photos.
Termites are small cellulose eating insects that are often white or pale colored. They eat wood as their food source, and survive in damp environments. They work from the inside out, so the outside of the structure may look normal, but the inside could be destroyed. They create mud tubes, that appear muddy or gritty, to maintain the moisture control. An example of the damage and termite tubes appear on the right side of the photos.
Termites and carpenter ants can cause serious, and expensive, damage before you even know they’re there. Our team provides thorough inspections and targeted treatments to stop infestations fast, and keep your home safe. If you are seeing signs of wood destroying insects, or just want to have some peace of mind, contact us today for a free inspection!
