Carpenter Ants treatment in Chicago
Large black ants that hollow out wood to nest. Finding the colony is the whole job.
Carpenter ants are generally large black ants. Two things separate them from other ants: a smooth, rounded thorax, and a single node between thorax and abdomen.
Main colonies are usually outside, where the ants have easy access to rotten wood that makes for easy nest building. Their galleries show up as tunnels in the wood with a distinctly smooth, sanded appearance. The wood they choose is generally already damaged or in need of replacement.
If the main colony is inside, there is almost always a moisture problem behind it — a leaking window, a bad flashing detail, a damp sill plate. Fixing the ants without fixing the water just buys you a season.
Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They cannot digest it the way a termite can. They hollow out only as much as they need for nesting, which is why the damage is slower than termite damage but still worth taking seriously in an older Chicago frame house.
Signs you have carpenter ants
- Large black ants indoors, especially at night
- Piles of coarse sawdust-like frass below wood surfaces
- Smooth, clean galleries visible in damaged wood
- A faint rustling in walls or ceilings in a quiet room
- Winged swarmers indoors in spring
How we treat them
- Locate the parent colony and any satellite nests
- Identify and flag the moisture source feeding the nest
- Non-repellent applications the ants carry back to the colony
- Exterior perimeter and entry-point treatment
- Follow-up to confirm the colony is gone, not just relocated
Common questions
Are carpenter ants as damaging as termites?
No. They hollow out wood for nesting rather than eating it, so the damage accumulates more slowly. But a colony left alone for years in a damp wall can still do real structural harm.
Why do I only see them at night?
Carpenter ants forage mostly after dark. Seeing a few large black ants in the kitchen at 11pm is one of the most common ways people first notice them.
Other pests we treat
Dealing with carpenter ants?
Free site estimate anywhere in Chicagoland. See a pest within 2 weeks of our service and we come back free.