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Carpenter Ant Control | Fiore Pest Control | SE Wisconsin & Northern Illinois
Trusted Since 1988

Carpenter Ant Control,
Done Right.

Specialized treatment for carpenter ant management and application of preventative treatments to prevent structural damage to your home. Family-owned and locally operated.

Call (262) 743-2420 Common Questions
Licensed in WI & IL
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SE Wisconsin home protected from carpenter ant damage
Structural Damage Prevention
Understanding Carpenter Ants

Not Your Average Ant Problem

Carpenter ants are the largest ant species commonly found in Wisconsin homes, measuring up to half an inch long. Unlike termites, they do not eat wood. Instead, they excavate it to build their nests, hollowing out smooth galleries inside structural timbers, wall studs, and other wooden components of your home.

Left unmanaged, carpenter ant colonies can grow for years, expanding their galleries and weakening the structural integrity of the wood they inhabit. A mature colony can contain thousands of workers, and they often establish multiple satellite colonies throughout a structure.

Southeast Wisconsin's wooded landscapes and older housing stock make our region particularly prone to carpenter ant activity. They are most visible in spring when winged reproductives (swarmers) emerge to start new colonies.

Key Differences from Termites

Do not eat wood; they excavate it for nesting

Leave smooth, clean galleries (not mud-packed tunnels)

Produce sawdust-like frass pushed out of nest openings

Prefer damp or water-damaged wood to start nesting

Visible workers are large (1/4 to 1/2 inch), usually black

Know the Signs

Signs of Carpenter Ant Activity

Catching carpenter ant activity early is critical to preventing significant structural damage. Watch for these indicators.

Wood Shavings (Frass)

Small piles of fine, sawdust-like material beneath wooden structures, window sills, or baseboards. Often contains insect body parts.

Rustling Sounds

Faint rustling or crinkling noises inside walls, ceilings, or wooden beams, especially at night when carpenter ants are most active.

Large Black Ants Indoors

Seeing large (1/4 to 1/2 inch) black or dark brown ants inside your home, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms, or near windows.

Hollow-Sounding Wood

Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or structural elements that feel soft or spongy. Galleries weaken wood from the inside out.

Winged Swarmers

Winged ants emerging indoors, especially in spring. This indicates a mature colony has been present long enough to produce reproductives.

Visible Trails at Night

Lines of large ants moving along baseboards, window frames, or exterior walls after dark. They follow consistent foraging paths.

Risk Factors

What Attracts Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants target specific conditions around your home. Understanding these risk factors helps explain why they are there and how to reduce future vulnerability.

Moisture Damage

Water leaks, condensation around windows, ice dam damage, and poor drainage create the soft, damp wood carpenter ants prefer for initial nesting.

Trees and Vegetation

Branches touching the roof or siding provide direct pathways. Overgrown bushes against the foundation create sheltered travel routes and moisture traps.

Wood-to-Soil Contact

Deck posts, porch supports, siding, or structural wood that contacts the ground provides easy access from soil colonies directly into the structure.

Firewood Storage

Firewood stacked against the house or stored in the garage is a common source of carpenter ant introductions. Colonies readily establish in stacked logs.

Stumps and Dead Trees

Parent colonies often establish in dead trees, stumps, or rotting landscape timbers near the home, then send workers into the structure to create satellite nests.

Older Home Construction

Homes with aging wood components, original windows, or deferred exterior maintenance provide more opportunities for moisture intrusion and ant access.

Homeowner Tips

Reducing Your Risk

While professional treatment addresses active colonies, these steps can help reduce conditions that attract carpenter ants to your property.

1

Fix Moisture Issues

Repair leaky roofs, gutters, and plumbing. Ensure proper drainage away from the foundation.

2

Trim Vegetation Back

Keep branches at least 3 feet from the roofline and siding. Clear bushes away from the foundation.

3

Move Firewood Away

Store firewood at least 20 feet from the house and elevated off the ground. Never store it in the garage.

4

Replace Damaged Wood

Swap out soft, water-damaged wood on decks, porches, and fascia boards before it attracts nesting activity.

5

Eliminate Ground Contact

Ensure siding, structural wood, and deck posts do not directly contact soil. Use concrete footings or metal brackets.

6

Remove Dead Wood

Take out dead trees, stumps, and rotting landscape timbers near the home that could harbor parent colonies.

30
Day Initial Guarantee
Every first service is backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. A $78 trip charge may apply.
90
Day Ongoing Guarantee
All recurring service plans are guaranteed for 90 days between visits. A $78 trip charge may apply.
37+
Years of Experience
Serving Southeast Wisconsin and Northern Illinois since 1988.
FAQ

Carpenter Ant Questions

Carpenter ants are significantly larger than most household ants, typically measuring 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. They are usually black or dark brown. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. Instead, they excavate it to create smooth, clean galleries for nesting. You may find small piles of wood shavings (frass) near their activity areas. Regular household ants are much smaller and do not damage wood structures.
Common signs include small piles of fine wood shavings (frass) beneath wooden structures, faint rustling sounds inside walls or ceilings, seeing large black ants indoors (especially in spring), hollow-sounding wood when tapped, and finding winged ants emerging from walls or ceilings in spring. Carpenter ants prefer damp or water-damaged wood, so damage is often found near bathrooms, kitchens, rooflines, and window frames.
No. Carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites do. They excavate wood to build their nests, creating smooth, clean tunnels and galleries. They feed on other insects, honeydew from aphids, and household food sources like sweets and proteins. The wood shavings they produce (called frass) are pushed out of their galleries and can often be found in small piles below nest openings.
Carpenter ants are attracted to moisture-damaged or softened wood. Common attractants include water leaks around windows, roofs, or plumbing, wood-to-soil contact at the foundation, firewood stored against the house, overgrown vegetation touching the structure, and tree branches providing a bridge to the roofline. They often establish satellite colonies inside structures while maintaining a parent colony in a nearby tree or stump.
Treatment timelines depend on the size and location of the colony. A thorough inspection identifies all activity areas and nesting sites. Treatment targets the colony directly and addresses conditions that attracted them. Follow-up monitoring ensures the treatment is effective. Your technician will outline the specific timeline and any follow-up visits needed after the initial inspection.
Fiore Pest Control provides carpenter ant treatment throughout Walworth County, Wisconsin including Delavan, East Troy, Elkhorn, Fontana, Lake Geneva, and Williams Bay. We also serve Hawthorn Woods, Libertyville, and Mundelein, Illinois. We hold structural pest control licenses in both states.
Where We Work
Service Area

Licensed in both states. Proudly protecting homes across Walworth County and beyond.

Wisconsin

  • Delavan
  • East Troy
  • Elkhorn
  • Fontana
  • Lake Geneva
  • Williams Bay

Illinois

  • Hawthorn Woods
  • Libertyville
  • Mundelein

Concerned About Carpenter Ants?

Early treatment prevents costly structural damage. Schedule a professional inspection and find out exactly what you are dealing with.

Call (262) 743-2420
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