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Don’t Bring in the Carpenter Ants
with the Yule Log!
Carpenter ants are the #1 pest in Northeast
Ohio. In nature they live in trees and logs, but in our
homes and businesses they can live in anything from wood to hollow
core doors to attic insulation. Most people blame these hard working
creatures for all the damage that is found when they are discovered.
However, carpenter ants are a “lazy” insect. They are
drawn to areas and objects that are easier to infest and chew into
such as wet/damaged wood, decayed or rotted wood and hollow structures.
For carpenter ants to survive they need a source of water. That
is why we often blame the broken step on the carpenter ants when
actually the step was already damaged when they invaded. Don’t
get us wrong, carpenter ants are considered a Wood Destroying Insect
and you probably will not appreciate them in your home!
You can help prevent carpenter ant infestations
by eliminating moisture problems, cutting back trees and shrubs
that touch any structure (these provide interstate highways to ants
and other insects!) and storing firewood at least 20’ from
your home.
So, can they come in with the Yule Log? They certainly
can. When frozen logs are brought into a heated house whatever insects
are living in them may wake up! If you find they have invaded your
holiday give us a call so the professionals can help you.
(By the way, you can always tell the Carpenter
Ants from other ants because they are the ones wearing the tool
belt! Sorry, couldn’t resist!)
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