In a Quebec home, we encounter several species of ants: from the smallest to the largest.
From the black ants,which invade the garden and infest food, to carpenter ants,which are more formidable for our homes and to which we must pay special attention.
Beware of the carpenter ant
The carpenter ant is a rather large critter that can be black or red and black. It is an omnivorous insect (which eats food of plant or animal origin).
Once inside a house, the ants complete their menu with:
- sweet foods,
- meat,
- fat…
Suffice to say that ants are not difficult and revel in everything in their path.
The most common species in Canada
- The Pharaoh Ant (read this page)
- The ant of the pavement(read this article)
- The red ant (scientific name Camponotus herculeanus)
This species does not go unnoticed with its size: 15 to 20mm.
The black ant (scientific name Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
Their colour varies from red to black and measure from 9 to 10mm.
The presence of these small critters is a real wake-up call since this insect has a predilection for wet wood. It is therefore a sign that reveals a moisture problem inside a home. Or the wooden structures are rotting.
In any case, it is essential to be wary of it and to act
Their modus operandi is different from that of termites. Unlike the latter, ants do not eat wood, they dig galleries and eject wood in the form of sawdust.
In addition to the suspicious presence of ants in the house, other manifestations must alarm the owners. In particular, it is important to be vigilant if sawdust is detected on the ground, near the structures and other wooden elements of the house.
The damage of ants in a house
Ants tend to be overlooked as harmless. However, these insects can cause significant damage. These can in particular damage the lumber. Ants dig long galleries. Over time, the holes eventually weaken the entire structure of the building.
