The majority of carpenter ants live between six to 12 weeks long. If you suspect carpenter ants have invaded your home, it’s important to understand how long they live and their behaviors.
Carpenter Ant Lifespan
As mentioned, carpenter ants have a life expectancy of six to 12 weeks. They will develop from eggs to adulthood. However, cold weather can help extend a carpenter ant’s lifespan up to as many as 10 months. Due to their short life cycles, it can take anywhere from three to six years total to grow and maintain a thriving colony.
The general consensus is that all ant species can survive for about two weeks without food. Most ant species will die off after only five days without water.
What Do Carpenter Ants Eat?
Carpenter ants merely tunnel through wood for nesting purposes, even though most assume this is their biggest source of food. Instead, these ants eat the following:
- Termites.
- Larvae.
- Nectar.
- Plant liquids.
- Fruit juices.
- Insect carcass parts.
Where Do Carpenter Ants Live?
These ants typically build nests within wood. While they usually nest in damaged or decaying wood outdoors, it can become quite easy for them to burrow through to the indoors. Once inside your home, they build a place to live, including an elaborate tunnel system.
A colony’s choice to move inside could be a sign of rotting structural wood or excess moisture in the home or building. These ants do a great deal of damage with their tunneling habits, which can compromise the structure’s overall integrity.
What Are The Signs Of A Carpenter Ant Infestation?
Carpenter ants are not sneaky creatures, as they will often leave piles of wood shavings near entryways and baseboards. Larger colonies are also likely to create some noise, so you may be able to hear some rustling sounds coming from your walls. Large, dark-colored ants flying around your home can also indicate carpenter ant activity.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants
Baits, sprays, wood injections, and powders can be used to treat carpenter ants. These treatments can also work with drywood termites, which are typically found in similar locations. A combination of methods is usually your best bet since the pests often hide deep inside the wood.
Contact the team at Poor Boy Termite Control in Scottsdale, AZ for more information!
Termite Control Phoenix Metro Area
Poor Boy Termite Control can solve all of you termite issues. We only deal with termites as the name implies. We use thermal imaging, with no drilling or guessing. At Poor Boy Termite Control we detect termites and treat them. If you have a termite infestation, Call Poor Boy Termite Control at (480) 994-4240 and schedule an appointment before the problem gets worse!
