Carpenter Ant - Pavement Ant
Ant colonies can grow very large and consist of millions of individuals.
What are these Ants?
There over 12,000 classified species of Ants. The most common in Colorado are Pavement, Sugar, and Carpenter ants.
Pavement and sugar ants are usually 1/4" to 3/8" long and are black or brown in color. They generally nest under rocks, concrete and pavement.
Carpenter Ants are larger ants usually measuring 1/2" to 3/4" long. They are black or brown and black in color. These ants live in nests usually in a tree, stump or log, and have remote colonies inside structures.
Are they dangerous?
Pavement and Sugar ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat.
So why do I have them?
Ants are foragers, constantly looking for food. Pavement and Sugar ants will eat almost anything - insects, dog food, seeds, dew, bread, you name it. If it's food and it's on the floor, these ants are sure to find it. Once they do, they leave a pheromone trail so the other ants can find it. This is why it's common to see ant "trails".
Carpenter ants mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually enter buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or where utility lines pass through walls. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.
Carpenter ants are common in wooded areas such as the foothills, but can also be found in the city.
How do you get rid of them?
Eliminating ants can be a tricky task as they are elusive creatures and their numbers are large. If the nest is not destroyed, the ants will keep coming back. That's why our service includes the necessary treatments and follow ups, for one fee. Our treatment methods include the following:
Initial Service - Detailed inspection of the entire structure identifying areas of activity and entry points. A treatment around the foundation, garage, sidewalks, patios, etc is applied on the exterior. Any nests found will also be treated. On the inside, our technician will apply a gel bait in areas where the ants are foraging. This bait is ingested, then brought back and spread throughout the colony.
Follow up - A follow up is included for Carpenter ants only. During this service, a full inspection will be conducted and materials re-applied if needed.
This is a one-time service. For greater protection and money savings learn about Colorado's Choice Seasonal or Colorado's Select Commercial programs.
Is the treatment safe?
EnviroPest uses the least amount of material as possible while still resolving the problem. We utilize natural products, baits, and mechanical means as a form of treatment as much as possible. When conventional materials are required, we follow very stringent guidelines for the use of the product so that it poses no threat to people or pets. All products are registered by the EPA. Our service technicians will inform you of any specific safety measures that need to be taken.
How soon can you get here?
We take all pest problems seriously and are committed to helping you ASAP. In most cases we can respond the same, or very next, day.
How much does it cost?
The standard service mentioned above is $299 based on an average size home under 3500 square feet where the infestation does not require more than the standard number of services. We will always make you aware of any price changes before we start your service.
What is the warranty?
This service comes with a two month warranty from the initial service date.
We also guarantee your complete satisfaction. If for any reason, you are not 100% satisfied with your service, we will correct it free of charge. That’s EnviroPest’s promise to keep your home pest free.
How can I prevent this in the future?
Pest problems can be difficult to prevent. Many of our clients choose to continue service with our Colorado's Choice program to keep pests out of their home. You can also check our Pest Prevention Tips here.
