Comparing Carpenter Ants And Termites

By Author: Harry Ross
Total Articles: 29
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Termites happen to be one of the most feared insects on earth. This is not however, because they are harmful to the people whose homes they invade, but rather that they can cause large amounts of damage to the underlying structure of a home or building in very small amount of time. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year and their presence often goes undetected until they have created a big mess. New Jersey termite control services are called in regularly to deal with the complex systems of nests and rid properties of the unwanted visitors.

The amount of damage that a colony causes in a specified time really depends on the type of termite as well as the type of wood they encounter. Typically, the home of the insects is not within the home, but rather just outside, or beneath it within the soil.

The well-structured colonies make quick work of building extension tunnel systems into the home and within the ground surrounding it. When one colony becomes too large, the winged termites move off to start others nearby. That means that a single colony can multiple many times and all of them could ...
... be feeding on the wood and other organic material within the home.

It is in the winged phase that termites are typically noticed. As they travel, they can be spotted around the home. Unfortunately, the size and shape of a termite is very like that of many ant species, which use the same method of expanding and growing colonies. While most ants differ greatly from the destructive termites, the carpenter ant acts in a very similar manner, destroying wood and other similar materials in order to expand their nest.

Unlike termites, however, carpenter ants will build their nests within the wood of a home. They tend to prefer homes that have moisture conditions present and will find tight, hidden places to nest including between the outer walls, in the ceilings, the attic, a crawl space, or even within the window framing.

Unlike termite colonies, carpenter ant colonies within the home will frequently have a parent colony that exists in the natural environment nearby. The home invasion is due to the species needing to expand, but growing too large for the area inhabited.

Once in the home, they will frequently leave their nests to seek other food sources, along definite paths marked with chemical scents. These will generally occur along the edges of the building, cabinets, and other equally protected areas. When returning to the nest, they may carry food sources with them, including other insects, though this source of food only accounts for about one percent of their diet.

Both termites and carpenter ants can be very destructive when living within the home and it can be extremely difficult to extract them from the structure, which is why it is highly recommended that individuals don’t try DIY termite treatments. Instead, it is wise to seek the help of professionally trained a New Jersey termite control companies, like Ross Environmental Solutions, which often specialize in natural ant control for those who hope to avoid less than eco-friendly extermination.

Article Source: Ross Pest Control Blog