Warm weather invites ants to invade county

Uninvited spring guests have made an appearance at many locations in homes and public places over the past week. They are big, black carpenter ants.

Extension agent Steve Van Vleet said he has not seen an infestation like this in the eight years he has resided in the county.

“This spring, it was like the perfect storm,” he said. “The sudden warm weather brought out hatching.”

He added the ants are swarming.

“People might wonder, ‘Are they going to eat my house?’ No, they’re not,” he said.

Van Vleet said the ants are mating. The winged adults are looking for nesting areas, but they have to have a queen to make a nest.

“They typically like moist wood,” he said.

However, the ants can exist in dry wood and over time build nests.

“You can’t do much about it now,” he said. “Until you see the ants coming out of an area, you shouldn’t be too concerned.”

Carpenter ants don’t consume wood like termites. Sometimes carpenter ants will hollow out sections of trees and they can live both indoors and outdoors in moist, decaying or hollow wood.

They cut “galleries” into wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Certain parts of a house, such as around and under windows, roof eaves, decks and porches, are more likely to be infested by carpenter ants because these areas are most vulnerable to moisture. They can leave behind a sawdust-like materials. Ant galleries are smooth and very different from termite-damaged areas.

Although there are sprays and baits for carpenter ants, at this time in the season, those are only temporary fixes, he said.

“Keep your eyes out until you think they might be building a nest,” he said.

If a homeowner suspects the ants are building a nest, he suggests contacting a professional pest control expert.

“It’s not a bad idea to spread bait around your home,” he said.

He said although he’s had calls from all over Whitman County, the ant appearances seem to be dropping off now.

“Be vigilant about watching them,” he advised.