Hill Country Pest Control Ant Care

Just behind termites, wood ants (carpenter ants,) are the second most destructive wood-damaging insects affecting properties in and around Fredericksburg. Although their populations are typically smaller than termites, carpenter ants can still cause significant structural damage in a short amount of time.

Carpenter ants are among the most recognizable ants found in and around homes. They are usually black or red, though some may be solid black or solid red, and range in size from about 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch long. Equipped with large mandibles, they are capable of tearing through wood and giving a good pinch!

Carpenter ants will infest most wood structures, with a preference for moist or partially decayed wood. Unlike termites, which consume wood for nutrition, carpenter ants excavate and discard the wood to create nesting galleries. Their diet consists of both plant and animal matter.

The presence of carpenter ants often signals underlying issues such as excess moisture, rotting wood, or other conditions favorable to infestation. Trees touching the home commonly act as a highway for carpenter ants, though they will also travel along the ground to locate suitable nesting sites.

Trimming trees and keeping brush away from your house will help prevent an infestation…

Hill Country Pest Control of Fredericksburg has many ways we can help prevent an infestation and/or rid your home of these insects. Our experienced technicians use a combination of conventional (Termidor) and baiting methods to eliminate the complete colony.

While wood ants are extremely destructive, sugar ants tend to invade homes more quickly than any other ant species. Smaller than most ants, they can access tighter, more confined areas of your home.

Sugar ants are indoor foragers that prefer moist environments, commonly nesting near water sources such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Despite their name, sugar ants eat a wide variety of foods, from sweet to salty. They prefer human food sources rather than damaging the structure of your home, making them less destructive than other ant species.

However, sugar ants are notoriously difficult to eliminate due to their colony structure. Because colonies contain multiple queens, killing a single queen will not eliminate the infestation.

If you discover a sugar ant infestation, do not spray them with store-bought ant killers!

…since the colony may increase production when foragers fail to return. The most effective solution is professional treatment. After a thorough inspection, our service professionals will create a customized treatment plan and provide recommendations to help reduce the likelihood of re-infestation.