Serving the Ocala area for 17 years, The Bug Doctor feels that knowledge is your best defense against the carpenter ant. Their technicians service residential and commercial structures with the most modern and effective pest control methods. Their staff is trained year round both on and off the field and since they live in Ocala too, they are familiar with the bugs that bother you most and have extensive knowledge on how and where these pests invade your home. So please give us a call and let us prove the value of our treatments and show you why knowledge and friendly staff makes us the best pest control company right here in Ocala Florida. As the carpenter ant is currently swarming in our area and we get more calls, we’d like to take this time to let you know a little about the Florida Carpenter Ant.
As their name suggests, red & black carpenter ants have brownish-black bodies, black gasters and reddish-brown thoraxes. Popularly known in Florida as the Florida carpenter ants due to the large population present in the state, they belong to one of the largest species of ants in the world. An interesting fact about the Florida carpenter ant is that it has accounted for more than 20% of all complaints by homeowners, and a survey in 1995 found that only a few times other species were found in buildings over the carpenter ant.
The red and black carpenter ants eat a variety of dead and living plants and insects, as well as sweets, honeydew, meats and other household items. These ants are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Like other species of carpenter ants, the red and black carpenter ant prefers to nest in partially decayed wood, moist areas and other structures that offer consistent temperature, protection from environmental changes and predators. But they don’t eat wood like the termite. You will most likely find the carpenter ant in your porches or decks due to it being more exposed to moisture. Nesting habits of these two-colored ants are similar to other carpenter ant species. They tend to choose areas with moisture problems, such as attics and ceilings, carpets and flooring, windows, doors, trees and shrubs, woodpiles, and many more.
To identify the carpenter ant, it has antennae that are twelve-segmented. The terminal segment is bullet-shaped, slightly elongated and has no club. The antennal scape is broad and flattened basally throughout. The waist of a red and black carpenter ant consists of one petiole segment (node), and the tip of their abdomen has a circular ring of hairs. Black and red carpenter ants have long golden colored body hairs. A key characteristic of all carpenter ants can be seen in the Florida species: their thorax is evenly convex. Sexually active male carpenter ants are smaller than the queens, but have proportionally smaller heads and larger wings. Both male and female winged forms possess two pairs of wings, which are unequal in size. Most homeowners mistake a swarm of carpenter for termites and are unsure on how to tell the difference, just look for the waist, if there is none it will be a termite. I hope this information will help you and if you are still unsure about the problem you are having feel free to give us a call at The Bug Doctor and let us show you why so many people have chosen us as their pest control company.
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