A Guide To Resilient Pests In Hendersonville, NC

Carpenter ants received their name because, with the help of their strong mandibles, workers tunnel through pieces of wood to create nesting galleries for their colony. They make their central nest outside, but often find their way inside homes and other structures where they take advantage of water-damaged structural wood to create satellite nests and expand their colony.

Carpenter ants are large and usually black but sometimes have various colors like red, yellow, or a combination. Adult workers grow to between ¼ and ½ of an inch in length, and the queen grows up to an impressive inch.

Carpenter ants usually choose areas of high moisture to build their nests. Outside, they nest in rotting trees, tree stumps, large tree roots, fallen trees, and old piles of firewood. Inside, they nest in wood beams that are behind walls and under floors, as well as wood that is around chimneys, sink areas, and the roofline. Carpenter ants pose the biggest danger to yards and homes that are near wooded areas, although an infestation can happen anywhere in any structure. When you first see large black ants wandering in or around your home, it is important to contact a professional and get rid of these wood-destroying insects before they have the chance to cause extensive and expensive damage inside.

• Caulk cracks in the foundation, place door sweeps on exterior doors, and repairing loose or torn screens to prevent them from getting inside.
• Eliminate excess moisture by making sure weatherstripping is in place around windows and doors, fixing leaky pipes, and using dehumidifiers.
• Remove fallen trees, trees, stumps, and other wood debris from your yard where they can nest.
• Get rid of food sources by keeping tight-fitting lids on trash cans, keeping outdoor eating areas clear of food debris, and picking up uneaten pet food.

Solitary by nature, carpenter bees aren't seen swarming around yards in large numbers. Carpenter bees are a type of stinging insect that poses more of a danger to property than people.

Female carpenter bees can sting, but they are docile and usually only sting if they are threatened or handled. Males are much more hostile and aggressive but luckily lack a stinger. Adults range in size from ¼ to 1 inch long. They are often confused with bumblebees, and the most recognizable difference between the two is that bumblebees have fuzzy hair covering their bodies, while carpenter bees have an abdomen that is black, shiny, and hairless.

Carpenter bees are outdoor pests and can become a problem on almost any property. However, they gravitate to areas with lots of flowering vegetation to feed on and plenty of softwoods and untreated wood structures for them to nest in. Carpenter bees place their nests in trees like cedar and redwoods, man-made wooden structures like outdoor furniture, play structures, decks, porches, and wood siding or shingles. Carpenter bees tend to return to the same nesting areas year after year, and many females nest in the same piece of wood. Over time the presence of carpenter bees will lead to structural damage. Also, carpenter bee nests attract woodpeckers. Woodpeckers peck at the tunnels to feed on carpenter bee eggs and larvae, causing even more structural damage.

• Place metal flashing on the ends of boards in play structures and on decks or porches.
• Treat wood structures on your property with varnish, stain, or paint.
• Use hardwood instead of softwoods to build structures on your property.
• Remove fallen trees and tree stumps from your property.
• Use a caulking gun to repair any cracks or holes in exterior walls, the roofline, wood trim, and wood shingles.

Cockroaches are insects, and over 3,500 species live worldwide, with approximately 55 species living throughout the United States. The German cockroach is one of the most common. They are most often found inside homes and businesses and prefer to live indoors.

German cockroaches are small, and have two dark parallel stripes running down their backs right behind their heads. In general, cockroaches have flattened oval-shaped bodies and antennae as long or longer than their bodies. Having wings is species-dependent, but even those with wings are usually not adept fliers. Roaches that live near people have come to depend on us for some of their food and shelter needs.

Some of the biggest reasons why these creatures are so problematic for people include that they are prolific breeders, carry and spread disease-causing pathogens and parasites, trigger allergies and asthma, contaminate food, and are tough to prevent and eliminate.

Cockroaches can find their way into homes and businesses in a variety of ways. While out foraging for food, they move inside through spaces in the foundation, exterior walls, windows, and through drains. They also hitchhike their way inside in bags, packages, furniture, appliances, and even on the bottom of shoes. Inside, the most common places cockroaches live and breed are kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. They are attracted to the easy access to food and the warm, damp environment these locations provide.

• Keep cockroaches out of your home by inspecting its exterior and sealing any spaces that lead inside.
• Place mesh covers over drains leading into your home.
• Most species have high moisture needs, so use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in your home.
• Get rid of easy access to food by placing tight-fitting lids on trash cans, keeping food in the fridge or containers with airtight lids, and picking up uneaten pet food.

Odorous house ants are a common species of household ants. These small ants grow to between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch in length. They are black or brown and typically identified by the way they smell after being crushed. Odorous house ants emit a foul-smelling odor that is powerful and likened to a rotting coconut.

These ants feed on a wide variety of foods but prefer those high in sugar - which is why they are also called sugar ants. Odorous house ants forage for food in flower and vegetable gardens, open containers of trash, compost bins, and outdoor eating areas.

These ants often find their way inside homes either while searching for food or while trying to escape harsh weather. Inside, these ants prefer to create nests near areas of moisture such as wall voids near hot water pipes or sinks, inside heaters, and in crawlspaces. They also place nests in pieces of wood already damaged by termites and other wood-damaging insects.

• Seal up cracks and crevices in your foundation, exterior walls, and the spaces around utilities entering your house to keep odorous house ants from getting into your home.
• Reduce moisture levels by using dehumidifiers and fixing leaky pipes and fixtures.
• Get rid of their easy access to food sources by keeping locking lids on outdoor trash cans and compost bins, washing dirty dishes daily, and storing food in the refrigerator or airtight containers.

Termites are a type of wood-destroying pest and responsible for causing billions of dollars worth of damage across the United States each year. The most widespread kind of termite living across the United States is the subterranean termite. These termites are mostly attracted wood that is decaying or has been previously damaged by water.

Subterranean termites nest under the ground and each day travel back and forth from their nest to food sources. While out foraging for food, worker termites often find their way into homes and other structures through cracks in the foundation, or pieces of wood that are making direct contact with the ground.

Outside, away from our homes and businesses, termites are beneficial pests. They help to reduce the amount of decaying wood and vegetation, releasing nutrients back into the ground that other living organisms benefit from. However, when these insects move inside structures, they become unwanted and have the potential to cause extensive structural damage that is expensive to repair.

Known as "silent invaders", termites can work for long periods (sometimes years) before their damage becomes apparent. Subterranean termites feed on structural wood found behind walls, below floors, and above ceilings. They prefer to attack water-damaged wood, but over time will also attack sound wood. Partnering with a professional to implement a proactive termite control plan is the best way to save the structure of your home, your bank account, and your sanity from termite damage.

• Use dehumidifiers to reduce moisture levels in your home, and make sure to ventilate crawlspaces.
• If wood located inside of your house ever becomes damaged by water, immediately remove and replace it.
• Remove fallen trees, tree stumps, and other organic debris from your property.
• Leave a barrier of at least 12-18 inches between any soil or mulch and your foundation.
• Replace traditional mulch with a non-organic option like rubber mulch.
• Clean gutters and place weatherstripping around windows and doors to stop water from seeping into your walls.