Seasonal Pests
Some pests are considered seasonal invaders such as carpenter ants, bees/wasps, boxelder bugs, clover mites, etc. This part of our website will be updated at the various times that these pests are normally a problem. It will contain photos, helpful hints, etc. And also a reminder that Rid-Et has a solution to all these pests available to you.

Carpenter Ants

Identification

Carpenter ants are easily
recognized by their black colour
and large size (8-21 mm in length). They may be associated with piles of sawdust-like materials, expelled from their nests through slit-like openings. Tunnels are clean, and do not contain dirt as do termite’s tunnels. When they enter homes they may make rustling noises inside walls loud enough to be heard when listening near the source.

Where they are found and their damage.

Carpenter ants use wood as a nest site; they do not eat the wood.  The presence of sawdust and small wood chips at the base of a tree or stump is a good indicator of carpenter ant activity (left).  Although the ants may damage sound wood; the majority of excavations occur in damp or decaying wood, such as dead portions of standing trees, stumps, or in logs.

A single ant colony usually occupies several trees, with one containing the brood (young).  Branches of a single colony may be linked by tunnels under the soil surface.  Ants are active in these tunnels 24 hours a day; but foraging activity is greatest at night.

The location of a nest may be found by observing the ants.  Ants may usually be seen traveling in lines leading to food.  This is because they are following a chemical trail excreted by the original scout ant that found the food source and marked the trail as it scurried back to the nest to “tell” other ants. By observing where the ants

are going with their food, the entrance to the nest site may be located.  Although carpenter ants do not rely heavily on chemical scent trails, careful observation and patience will lead you to the nest entrance.

42 South Main Street, Nazareth, PA 18064 | (610) 759-0839

If you see winged, ant-like insect flying around your property, you need to know whether they are ants or subterranean termites. If they are swarming termites, an established colony of these house-damaging insects are looking for a new nesting area…and your house is in danger.

The illustrations above highlight the differences between winged ants and winged termites. Look them over carefully and check them against the insects flying around your structure.

If the insects are, indeed, termites, call us immediately. We will eliminate the old colony and protect your house from these damaging invaders.  Call us if you’re still not sure after checking the illustrations, and we will confirm identification and treat, if necessary.

These are termites

Worker – actual size 1/4 inch.
Remains hidden inside wood or earth. Resembles an ant, except that the subterranean termite is grayish-white, instead of red or black, has a thick waist
and straight antennae. His job is to feed the colony, so he travels between the ground and nest, through tubes cut into the wood.

Soldier – actual size 5/16 inch
Remains hidden inside wood or earth. Resembles the worker, except for a longer, armored head with large jaws. He defends the colony against ants and other predators.

Queen – actual size 1/2 inch
Young queens swarm to form new colonies. 
A queen termite is brownish or black with a thick waist and two pairs of wings equal in length.  Her only duty is to lay eggs.

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