(702) 508-7544

Does One Carpenter Ant In My Vegas Home Mean I Have An Infestation?


The answer to this question isn't as straightforward as you may think. There are many factors to consider. Today, we're going to take a look at these factors and help you understand this important warning sign.

carpenter ant on wood

Does It Have Wings?

 
If you find even a single, winged carpenter ant inside your home, you have good reason for concern. Winged carpenter ants are attracted to light. They will not be enticed to enter your home, which is dimmer than the outside. For this reason, you can expect to find them crawling on interior windows that lead to the outside. They're trying to get to the sunlight.

Is It A Big Carpenter Ant?

 
Winged carpenter ants shed their wings as they begin a new nest. These male and female alates are larger than the workers. Workers range in size from ⅜ to ½ inches in length. Alates will be around ¾ of an inch or longer. Without their wings, they just look like really big ants. If you see one of these big ants in your home, it might have gotten in through a gap, crack, or hole, and is about to establish a nest. This could mean that your home hasn't been damaged yet. But you need to keep in mind that winged carpenter ants don't travel far from the nest that produced them. They swarm together, mate with each other, and quickly search for appropriate sites to establish new nests. If one accidentally got into your home, it is likely that you have a mature nest on your property or near to your property.

Do You Have One Worker Ant?

 
Carpenter ants send out scouts in search of food. These worker ants can travel as far as 100 yards in search of a food source. It will climb through cracks in rocks, scale trees, and even get into homes as it goes. So it is possible that the one worker ant in your home came from a nest outside of your home. But, even if the nest isn't inside your home, those ants should be addressed. It is only a matter of time before they spread from where they are to the wood of your home and start to do damage.

Do You Commonly See Worker Ants?

 
If you notice black ants that are between ⅜ and ½ inches in length (or larger) crawling around in your home more than once a week, you can assume that you have a carpenter ant infestation inside the structure of your home or, at the very least, in a wood source that is close to your foundation walls, such as a stump or a tree that has heart rot. The more you see worker ants exploring your home, the closer the nest is.

What Should I Do About Carpenter Ants?

Black carpenter ants are very destructive. They cost U.S. property owners hundreds of millions in frustrating repairs every year. They can do a lot of damage to your home over time if they are left untreated. It is wise to have a licensed pest control technician do a detailed inspection to monitor for carpenter ant activity, catalog areas that are conducive for habitation, and locate nests. After this inspection, you'll be given actionable information for addressing the problem. This is far better than taking on this problem alone. One of the worst things about a carpenter ant infestation is that you're not likely to know when your ant treatments fail. It is best to trust the experience of a pest professional.
 
Carpenter ants damage homes in a way that can be difficult to completely repair. Don't risk your equity. Get the best control possible and stop those ants before they can eat away at your retirement savings.
 
If you live in the Las Vegas area, remember that Red Rock Pest Control is always ready and available to assist you with all your pest control needs. We employ highly-trained and fully-licensed pest management professionals who know what is required to track down and eliminate carpenter ants, and all of the other destructive pests that can get into man-made structures in Las Vegas. Connect with us today and get the assistance you need to protect your investment from these wood-destroying pests.

 
 

Residential Services

Home Pest Control

For year-round protection against household pests, get your customized home pest control plan today.

Learn More >

Ant Control

Don't let ants become a nuisance in your home. Get your ant protection from Red Rock in place today.

Learn More >

Bed Bug Control

Don't let the bed bugs bite. Get your comprehensive bed bug control treatment from Red Rock today.

Learn More >

Termite Control

Termites cause damage not covered by homeowners insurance. Get your termite protection in place today.

Learn More >

Rodent Control

Mice and rats don't belong in your home. Keep rodents out with effective rodent control from Red Rock.

Learn More >

Recent Blog Posts

Schedule Your Free Inspection

Complete the form below to schedule your no obligation inspection.

For Expedited Service Call (702) 508-7544