The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Jun 2, 2010 Issue

June 2, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES Spring Home Improvement Carpenter ants are a nuisance to many people and can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes. Identifying and treating carpenter ants can prevent financial consequences from this invading pest. Many times carpenter ant damage is mistaken for damage caused by termites. While the two insects can both wreak havoc with the structure of a home, identifying the difference between the pests’ damage can aide in exterminating the offending insect. Carpenter ants do not eat the wood they inhabit. Rather, they tunnel through soft woods, creating caverns where they nest and lay eggs. Tunnels created by carpenter ants will be smooth and free of debris, called frass. Wood that has been damaged by termites will be rugged and potentially filled with sawdust shavings or mud. Moisture is the friend of carpenter ants. Moist wood is especially susceptible to damage from these ants. Rotting tree trunks, stumps, or roots are often infested with carpenter ants. However, healthy, hard, dry wood is more difficult for carpenter ants to channel through. Therefore, eliminating moisture from the home is one way to keep these insects from setting up nests indoors. Much like termites, carpenter ants will swarm in the spring to establish new nests. It is not uncommon to see winged ants in search of a new roost. If winged queens are repeatedly found indoors, this is a good indication there is a nest inside of the home. There are ways to reduce carpenter ant numbers indoors. Initially, make sure any sources of damp wood are eradicated. If wood is routinely stored indoors, as is the case Don’t let carpenter ants damage your home Decorating & II & IV • Page 21 for firewood, elevate it to provide ample air circulation. Promptly remove tree and shrub stumps and roots around the home. Also trim back any branches that overhang a home. Carpenter ants feed on insects and sweet nectars. Reducing food sources in the home and promptly cleaning up any spills can help prevent ants from seeking out sweet sources inside. If carpenter ants prove to be troublesome foes, consult with an exterminator who can assess the situation and propose a treatment option. If carpenter ants are merely found outdoors doing their job as nature’s wood decomposers, leave them be. SIDEBAR: Another Insect Carpenter Also common during the late spring season is the carpenter bee. Similar in appearance to a bumblebee, carpenter bees are large bees that can be found hovering around the outside of a home. Carpenter bees can be distinguished from bumblebees because their abdomen is shiny black, not furry like a bumblebee. Carpenter bees can do damage to a home by boring perfectly round holes into wood structures. Common nesting sites include eaves, window trims, fascia boards, siding, wooden shakes, decks, and outdoor furniture. They lay their eggs inside, which will later develop into larvae. While carpenter bee damage is mostly superficial, predators such as birds like woodpeckers may cause additional damage by digging through the wood to eat carpenter bee larvae. Carpenter bees prefer to attack wood that is bare, weathered and unpainted. Therefore, the best way to deter the bees is to paint all exposed wood surfaces, especially those that have a history of being attacked. �� Boilers Repaired or Replaced in One Day • Oil Tank Abatement • Chimney Liners • Water Heaters • Sewers & Drains • Cast Iron Gas Fired Boilers �� The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing…. And your paint is peeling. Don’t let peeling paint ruin the season. Call GSG Painting today and receive your next paint project! 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