Pest Guide · Lake of the Ozarks
Carpenter Ants: how they live, why they invade & how to get rid of them
Carpenter ants are the big black ants you see trailing across a lake-house deck or kitchen. Unlike termites they don't eat wood - they excavate it to nest - but over time that hollowing weakens framing, trim, and decking, especially where moisture has softened the wood.
How carpenter ants live
A mature colony has a main nest (often in damp or decayed wood) and satellite nests that can be inside walls, hollow doors, or foam insulation. They forage widely for sugars and proteins - which is why you see them indoors far from the actual nest. They're most active at night, so a few daytime ants can mean a much larger hidden colony.
Why they come into your home
Moisture and wood draw them in: leaky windows and roofs, damp crawlspaces, decks, wood piles, and tree limbs touching the house give them both nesting sites and bridges indoors. Sweet spills and pet food keep foragers coming back.
Signs of a carpenter ants problem
- Large black ants indoors, especially at night
- Piles of coarse sawdust-like "frass" below trim, sills, or joists
- A faint rustling in walls, or winged ants at windows in spring
- Ants trailing along decks, dock framing, or foundation lines
How to get rid of carpenter ants
Killing the trail you see doesn't solve it - you have to reach the nest and satellites. Effective control uses non-repellent products and baits that foragers carry back to the colony, plus finding and correcting the moisture that invited them. Because satellite nests hide in voids, this usually takes an inspection and a targeted treatment, not a spray along the counter.
How to keep them out
- Fix leaks and replace water-damaged wood promptly
- Trim tree and shrub limbs back from the roof and siding
- Move firewood and lumber away from the house
- Seal gaps at windows, doors, and utility lines
- Wipe up sweet spills and store pet food sealed
Dealing with carpenter ants at the Lake? All American has treated them since 1971 - local, licensed, and using no-odor products that are safe around kids and pets. We'll identify what you have and put together a plan that actually solves it.
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