Carpenter Ants in Iowa: Identification, Prevention, and Treatment

If you’ve noticed large black ants crawling around your home, especially near windowsills, door frames, or even inside your walls, you might be dealing with carpenter ants. These wood-damaging pests are common in Iowa, and while they don’t eat wood like termites, they can still cause serious structural issues over time.

Knowing how to identify carpenter ant activity, prevent an infestation, and treat an existing problem is crucial for protecting your home.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Key Takeaways

• Carpenter ants are large black or reddish ants with elbowed antennae and a rounded thorax, often found indoors.
• Sawdust-like piles near windows, baseboards, or attics are signs of a nest inside your home.
• Moisture problems, unsealed entry points, and wood-to-ground contact make your home more inviting to carpenter ants.
• Finding the nest, using baits, or calling a professional are the best ways to eliminate an infestation.

How to Identify Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are one of the largest species of ants in the U.S., with worker ants reaching up to ½ inch in length. Most are black, but some have reddish or brownish bodies.

Unlike other common ants in Iowa, they have a smoothly rounded thorax. Their elbowed antennae help tell them apart from termites, which have straight antennae.

In the spring, winged ants, known as swarmers, emerge to establish new colonies, a clear sign of an infestation.

If you see piles of sawdust-like material near baseboards, windows, or attics, that’s a sign of an ant nest inside your home.

How to Prevent a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Keeping carpenter ants out starts with making your home less inviting. Here’s how:

Eliminate Moisture Problems

Carpenter ants are drawn to damp wood. Fix leaky pipes, clean out clogged gutters, and ensure proper ventilation in crawl spaces and basements.

Remove Wood-to-Ground Contact

Avoid stacking firewood, landscaping timbers, or untreated lumber directly against your home. Store firewood at least 20 feet away.

Seal Entry Points

Carpenter ants sneak in through crevices around windows, doors, and utility lines. Seal gaps with caulk or weather stripping.

Trim Overhanging Branches

Tree limbs and stumps touching your home act as a highway for ants. Trim branches back to prevent easy access.

Keep Food Sources Secure

Like odorous house ants and pavement ants, carpenter ants are attracted to honeydew from aphids, as well as human food.

Store food in airtight containers and clean up spills promptly.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Already seeing signs of an ant infestation? Here are a few ways to tackle the problem.

Find and Remove the Ant Colony

The best way to stop an infestation is to locate and eliminate the nest. Check wall voids, attics, and crawl spaces for frass piles or rustling sounds at night.

If you find the nest, removing infested wood may be necessary.

Use Baits for Long-Term Control

Ant baits work by allowing worker ants to bring the poison back to the colony, eventually killing the queen.

However, they take time to work and may not be effective for large colonies.

Call a Professional Exterminator

DIY treatments often don’t reach the main nest, allowing the infestation to return.

Professional pest control experts can locate hidden ant nests and use specialized treatments to eliminate them for good.

Don’t Let Carpenter Ants Damage Your Home

Carpenter ants are more than just a nuisance. They can weaken your home’s structure over time. If you suspect an ant problem, act fast before they cause costly damage.

Need ant control in Des Moines or other parts of Iowa?

At Miller Pest & Termite, our professional pest control team can help. Contact us today for a thorough inspection and customized treatment plan!