Carpenter ants found in attic.
Carpenter ants in attic insulation.
I hit them with some raid ant killer and got a lot of them but a lot fled the scene.
This is the reason why carpenter ants that settle indoors can cause damage.
Feed on sugars carbohydrates and greases.
Carpenter ants prefer to nest in structural lumber such as in wall voids hollow doors windows and foam panels.
Carpenter ants will enter the house through wet damaged wood.
Carpenter ants have also been known to invade electrical wiring.
The good news here is that the ants are visible to you and they are still going outdoors to forage which means they will walk through areas that that you treat outdoors.
Excavate their nests in wood that is sound or decayed by moisture or damaged by other insects.
There was a pretty good amount and some were huge.
Carpenter ants typically seek wood that has been softened by moisture decay or other insects.
May have both a primary nest and secondary satellite nests located near each other.
Can ants live in insulation or can ants get through insulation.
Your attic hosts some electricals including cabling for various appliances.
There was a pretty good amount and some were huge.
So do ants live in insulation.
Indoor infestations can be tracked by points of entry such as attic vents foundations cracks electric wires pipes and telephone lines.
The most common trait that carpenter ants are known for is their love of wood as a preferred harborage space for their colony.
When carpenter ants invade these wires they eat through the insulation posing a potential fire hazard from short circuiting.
They need a constant water source to survive.
Do ants eat insulation.
While it would be unusual to have an entire colony in your attic it is not unheard of.
Moist wood and fiberglass or foam insulation provide ideal locations for ant nests.
Ants will build nests where ever they can find a suitable area to do so.
Yes they can do both.
Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources including tree stumps firewood or landscaping.
So i was removing attic insulation and found some carpenter ants just hanging out under the insulation blown in cellulose.
However it is important to realize that carpenter ants in the toronto area are also known to rip through and infest foam insulation.
Carpenter ants do not eat wood but damage wood through their nest building.