Carpenter ants are one of the most common and destructive pests that can invade your home. These large, black or red ants are infamous for chewing through wood and causing structural damage to your home. However, despite their reputation for being wood-damaging pests, carpenter ants actually feed on a wide variety of substances.
What Carpenter Ants Eat: A Diverse Diet
While carpenter ants are known for their wood-boring habits, their diet is far more varied. Unlike termites, which primarily consume wood, carpenter ants are omnivores. They feed on both plant and animal-based materials. Here are some of the primary food sources for carpenter ants:
1. Sugary Substances
- Why It’s a Favorite: Carpenter ants are particularly drawn to sugary foods. They are known to seek out sweet liquids, especially during the warmer months.
- What to Look For: Carpenter ants are often attracted to syrup, honey, and sugary drinks. You might find them around food spills, fruit, or open containers of sweet food items. The ants consume the sugary liquids and then return to their nests to share the food with the rest of the colony.
2. Protein and Fats
- Why It’s a Necessary Part of Their Diet: Carpenter ants also require proteins and fats to thrive. These substances help fuel their active lifestyles.
- What to Look For: Carpenter ants will often forage for meat, including dead insects, animal carcasses, and even grease or fat from kitchen areas. They might invade your pantry to access high-protein foods like pet food or dried meats, or they may target trash bins that contain leftover food scraps.
3. Wood and Plant Material
- Why It’s Not Just for Nesting: Carpenter ants are infamous for chewing through wood, but they don’t eat the wood. Instead, they use it to build their nests.
- What to Look For: Carpenter ants chew through wood to create tunnels, but the wood itself is not a primary food source. They will, however, use the wood to create a safe nesting area close to food sources. You may find their nests in the hollowed-out wood inside walls, wooden beams, or even in trees. Sometimes, carpenter ants will target trees that have decayed or are already weakened.
4. Dead Insects and Other Organic Matter
- Why It Works for Their Colony: Carpenter ants will scavenge dead insects and other organic matter, which can be found in and around your home.
- What to Look For: If you see carpenter ants around dead insects, it’s a sign that they are taking advantage of the food source. Dead ants, termites, and other pests provide a rich source of protein for carpenter ants.
How Carpenter Ants Find Their Food
Carpenter ants are excellent foragers and can travel long distances from their nests in search of food. They tend to follow established trails and will return to the colony once they’ve found a food source. They use their antennae to detect food sources, and they communicate with other ants by releasing pheromones that guide them to the food.
You might not always notice carpenter ants foraging for food, as they are most active during the night when it’s cooler. However, if you spot them during the day, it’s likely that they are scouting for food or returning to the nest.
How to Prevent Carpenter Ants from Invading Your Home
Knowing what carpenter ants eat is important because it can help you eliminate the food sources that attract them. Here are a few tips to keep carpenter ants away from your home:
1. Seal Food Sources
- Why It Works: Eliminating easy access to food is the first step in preventing carpenter ants from invading.
- How to Do It: Store food in airtight containers, clean up spills immediately, and make sure trash bins are tightly sealed. Avoid leaving pet food out overnight, as it can attract ants.
2. Control Moisture Levels
- Why It Works: Carpenter ants are attracted to moist environments, and they often nest in damp wood.
- How to Do It: Fix any leaky pipes or roof issues in your home. Make sure that basements and attics are well-ventilated and dry. Use dehumidifiers in damp areas to keep the environment less inviting to ants.
3. Eliminate Nesting Sites
- Why It Works: Carpenter ants are known to build nests inside wood, especially decaying wood.
- How to Do It: Inspect your home for any signs of damaged or decaying wood. Seal any cracks and gaps in your foundation, walls, and windows to prevent ants from entering. Trim tree branches that come into contact with your home to discourage ants from entering via the trees.
4. Call Pest Control Experts
- Why It Works: If carpenter ants are already in your home, it’s best to seek professional help to remove them.
- How to Do It: If you’ve spotted carpenter ants or suspect an infestation, contact pest control experts for an assessment. Professionals can safely remove the ants, treat the infestation, and help prevent future problems. For comprehensive Pest Control Services in Melbourne, experts use advanced techniques to ensure your home remains pest-free.
Conclusion
Carpenter ants may seem like harmless pests, but they can cause serious damage to your home if left unchecked. While they don’t eat wood like termites, they use wood to build nests and can weaken the structure of your home. Understanding what carpenter ants eat can help you eliminate food sources and take the necessary steps to prevent an infestation. By sealing food sources, controlling moisture, eliminating nesting sites, and calling in pest control experts if needed, you can keep your home safe from these destructive pests.
Published on: February 14, 2025