Here in western Washington, carpenter ants are a common sight each spring. After a long winter’s nap, they begin to move around, and many homeowners start discovering these invaders. Carpenter ants don’t eat wood; they only damage it while building their nests. For effective carpenter ant control, it’s crucial to understand their behavior.
Carpenter ants feed primarily on aphids and scale bugs, extracting honeydew from them. These insects significantly influence carpenter ant behavior. Aphids feed on plant sap, and their activity is tied to the seasonal cycle of plants.
During winter, plants move their sap into their roots. As a result, plant parasites can’t access the sap, leading them to lay eggs or go dormant. Without honeydew, carpenter ants also go dormant, taking a long winter nap.
As spring approaches, plants begin to move sap back up from their roots, and plant parasites start producing honeydew again. This signals the carpenter ants to wake up and resume tending to their aphid and scale bug flocks. For comprehensive carpenter ants treatment and carpenter ant removal, professional services are recommended to manage and prevent infestations effectively.
