What's the Difference Between Carpenter Ants and Black Ants?

Ants can be very annoying to any home. They raid food or gather around water sources like the sink. And you'll never miss one or two biting you. However, not all ants are the same. You may find some ants going the extra mile to cause significant harm to your home. For instance, carpenter ants tend to cause structural destruction to your home. It is critical to look for professional and exterminations services in Suffolk County or Nassau County. Now, how can you differentiate the common black ant from a carpenter ant? Thankfully, this guide comes in handy to show you the differences between these two ants. It'll describe their unique appearance, habitation, behaviors, and how to exterminate them. Differences Between Carpenter Ants and Black Ants Telling carpenter ants and black ants apart can be tricky at a glance. However, here's how to identify them:

Appearance One of the most common distinctions between carpenter ants and black ants is their appearance. Carpenter ant features a shiny, jet-black, or brown body that measures 0.375 to 0.5-inch in size. They have a dual pair of wings, 6 legs with two noticeable elbowed antennae on their heads. A carpenter ant that's reproductively a threat often has longer front wings than back wings. Their thorax is round, and their middle section is slim. Black ants tend to vary from dark reddish-brown to black. They are smaller and measure 1/16-inch in size and have up to 12 legs to climb on vertical surfaces easily. Habitat Carpenter ants prefer warm climates to build nests inside wooden structures like trees, logs, or your home. You can also commonly find them in the kitchen and bathrooms with dampened wood due to water leaks. On the other hand, black ants are ordinary outside homes with cold climates. As such, you'll find them around sinks, garages, flowerbeds, and trees. They also form mounds of dirt in the backyard. Primarily, they enter homes for food and water. They prefer building nests under rocks, exposed roots of trees, or between walls and landscaping timbers. Behavior Carpenter ants are nocturnal and will invade your home at night to feed on various sugary foods like syrup. Carpenter ants are a nuisance to home appliances like the wallpaper or clothes that have sweets in their composition. They have voracious appetites for sweet substances that could cause significant harm to your home if they remain uncontrolled for long. If you have an ant infestation, expect them to swarm over any food source in or near your kitchen and pantry. On the other hand, black ants are drawn towards greasy and starchy foods. They also leave chemical pheromones that attract other ants to make a colony near your home. These ants may contaminate food, sting you or your pets, and tend to be all-time unwelcomed guests in our homes.

Eradication

Carpenter ants can best be dealt with through professional ant exterminator services. However, it is possible to take care of black ants by using commercial repellents available in the market. If you're looking for a professional exterminator in Suffolk, consider choosing a General Terminating company. They have the best experts and products to get the job well done. Carpenter Ants vs Black Ants Infestation Patterns Carpenter ants are a common nuisance in homes. Especially if you live in warmer regions with wooded surroundings, they gather your food and transmit harmful bacteria on their feet that cause stains on the floor or walls. Biology-wise, carpenter ants spend most of their adult lives inside the colony, intending to produce the next generation of ants. As such, they are nurtured in a well-kept environment that's completely different from the outside world full of dangers. Carpenter ants also share their habitat with termites and beetle larvae. They tend to feed on dead insects and rotten wood, which form the primary food source for these pests. This habitation makes it hard to eliminate them from your home. On the contrary, black ants such as pavement ants are a common outdoor nuisance in homes. They feed on leftover foods and greasy stuff that adults bring back to the nests for larvae and queen ants consumption. As a result, they leave behind pheromone trails which attract other ants towards the food source. However, black ants are more dangerous than carpenter ants due to their sting ability and tendency to bite your skin. Like carpenters, they can contaminate food with pheromone trails as well. Although they don't bite, they can sting, which is very painful and could lead to anaphylactic shock in severe cases. Black ant colonies are also much bigger than carpenter ants, with a queen ant active inside the nest all day long. Since their population tends to be larger, it's more difficult to eliminate them from your home without professional pest control services. Professional Carpenter Ants and Black Ants Extermination Carpenter ants' exterminations can be done using commercial repellents available in the market. On the other hand, it is safe to leave black ants control to a professional pest exterminator in Suffolk due to their dangerous sting. The best way to deal with both pests is through preventative measures like sealing your home's cracks or crevices and exterminating their food source. If you are looking for a professional and exterminating on long island, General Exterminating Company should be your best pick. We are trustworthy and boast a team of experts in pest exterminations in New York. We cover counties such as Nassau County, Suffolk county, and many more.

Carpenter Ants vs Black Ants Infestation Comparison

In a Nut Shell: Difference Between carpenter ants and black ants Carpenter Ant

Appearance

· Colors: reddish-brown to black. · 12 legs for easy climbing on vertical surfaces. · Feeding pattern: Primarily, they feed on sweets and greasy substances. Colony: Builds a well-developed colony inside the wooden structure of your home. Life Span: Solitary insects spend most of their adult lives inside the colony to produce the next generation of ants. Diet: Carpenter ants feed on dead insects, rotten wood, and leftover foods that we leave in the kitchen. Habitat: In warmer regions, carpenter ants create nests inside your home's wooden walls or flooring.

Difference Between black ants and carpenter ants: Black Ants Appearance: · Colors: black to dark reddish-brown. · six legs for easy crawling on flat surfaces. Feeding pattern: Feeds off leftovers like greasy food, dead insects, and leftover foods. Colony: Solitary insects live outside in colonies of up to 200 ants per colony. Life Span: Queen ant stays active inside the nest with her partner laying eggs for reproduction purposes all year round. Diet: Black ants feed on leftovers like sugar, grease, and dead insects. They are also known to leave pheromone trails which attract other black ant worker units towards the food source. Habitat: Outside your home in places such as sidewalks or near rocks where protection is necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have seen small holes in my wooden boxes. Do carpenter ants live and breed inside? Carpenter ants usually build nests in your home's wooden walls or floors. However, they can also dig deep tunnels into your wooden boxes to lay eggs for reproduction purposes.

How can I eliminate black ants effectively?

A black ant infestation can be controlled by using commercial ant repellents available in the market. You can also let a professional pest exterminator handle the problem for you if black ants appear to be much more dangerous, mainly because of their sting and bite abilities.

How does carpenter ant infestation occur?

Carpenter ants build nests inside your home's wooden walls or floors, making them a serious threat to your wooden structures. They are also known to dig tunnels into wooden boxes to lay eggs for reproduction purposes.

What attracts carpenter ants?

Carpenter ants are attracted to sweet substances like honey, sugary foods or drinks, and dead insects. However, they can potentially be drawn towards leftovers that include grease and decaying food. Conclusion Carpenter ants and black ants are pretty annoying when they invade your home. The best way to get rid of them is by preventing the problem from occurring in the first place. Prevention is always the best solution to a carpenter ant infestation and exterminating on long island. Professional extermination services should be left to those trained in pest control. If black ants appear inside your home, it will do you good to use commercial ant repellent. If you are looking for a professional ant exterminator on long island, General Exterminating Company should be your best pick. We specialize in preventive measures and ensure that we prevent future damages to your property's wooden structures.