Other Wood Destorying Insects

carpenter ant

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees look like bumblebees without the yellow stripes. Carpenter Bees bore into dried, seasoned and untreated wood surfaces, preferring softwoods such as cedar, redwood, cypress, pine and fir. The male carpenter bee is very aggressive, but does not pose a threat as they don’t have stingers. They are a threat to your untreated wood as they look for nail holes, saw cuts and unpainted wood to bore their homes. Carpenter Bees bore into wood to lay eggs. The male bee will guard the nest with his aggressive behavior. Female carpenter bees will chew a tunnel into a piece of wood to build a nest gallery. The bits of wood she chews and deposits outside the nest are called frass. Carpenter bees prefer bare wood, so painting and staining wood is a good preventative measure. However, they will use stained or painted wood.
carpenter ant

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants excavate wood to build their nests. This nest building results in smooth tunnels inside wood. Carpenter Ants build nests in deteriorating, moist wood and will often extend its nest into adjacent, sound wood. These ants don’t eat the wood and a common means of finding these Carpenter Ants is to see their wood deposits outside their tunnels. Because carpenter ants require a water source, the best prevention measure is to eliminate sources of moisture or standing water around your home. Carpenter ants will produce major wood damage as they build their nest. If they gain entry to your home, they pose a serious threat to your structure. They have a very painful bite with pronounced mandibles and injection of formic acid into the wound.
acrobat ant

Acrobat Ants

Colonies of Acrobat Ants are typically small. Acrobat Ants nest in decaying tree stumps, fallen trees and limbs. They live in old carpenter ant galleries, termite galleries, in house voids, in walls and especially in voids around doors and window frames and in insulation. A key feature in recognizing acrobat ants is the heart-shaped abdomen that is raised well above the main body when disturbed. This is a defense posture used to avert enemies. Acrobat Ants feed primarily on honeydew produced by aphids, but are considered Wood Destroying Insects because of their wood boring habits. They typically invade an abandoned home of other types of wood destroying insects, so if you find Acrobat Ants in your home, it’s a good indication of a wood structure problem. A professional exterminator is needed to eradicate these ants as they are normally found in the voids of a home.

If you notice any signs of wood damage or evidence of any wood destroying insects,

Call Bob Jenkins Pest & Lawn Services today!

(210) 979-7378

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