Carpenter ants can damage the structure of your home. They don’t eat wood; they tunnel into the wood, hollowing it out to create galleries and nests, which weaken the structure. Carpenter ants are larger than other ants — 1/4 to 1/2 inch long — with an extra node between the abdomen and thorax. (Get out your magnifying glass and look for an extra bump between the middle and rear segments.) While often black, they can be brown, red or reddish brown and have a circle of hair on the tips of their rear ends.

Don’t get ants and termites confused. Though they have similarly shaped bodies, termites are off-white in color and have thicker waists than ants. They have straight, not bent, antennae and may have four wings all the same length. If you think you have termites, call Stern immediately. Termites do millions of dollars in damage every year and can cause serious damage to your home.

To help protect your home from carpenter ants and termites:

• Keep wood, earth and debris away from siding. Don’t allow deep piles of mulch to build up against posts, stairs or siding.
• Seal all cracks, holes and other possible entrances into your home, including wire and pipe pass-throughs.
• Don’t store firewood close to your house.
• Prune back tree branches so they don’t touch your house.
• Keep moisture away from the foundation as both pests prefer soft, rotted wood.
• Remove standing water from around your house as ants and termites need water to live.

Ants and termites are difficult pests to control. Nests must be found and destroyed to effectively remove the problem. If you think you have carpenter ants or termites, call the pest control experts at Stern Environmental Group immediately before these voracious pests damage your home. Visit our website for more information on these nasty pests; just click the post title. You’ll sleep well tonight when you get “Stern” with your pests.