Property Damaging Pests

1. Carpenter Ants

• Size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch long.
  
  

• Color: Black or red/black.
  
  

• Behavior: Don’t eat wood but excavate it to create nests (can damage structural wood).
  
  

• Signs:
  
  

  • Sawdust piles (“frass”) near walls or windows.
    
    

  • Rustling noises inside walls.
    
    

  • Winged ants indoors (a sign of an established colony).
    
    

• Hiding Spots: Inside walls, behind siding, windowsills, attic beams, and rotting wood.
  
  

2. Termites (Eastern Subterranean Termites)

• Size: 1/8 inch (workers); 1/4–1/2 inch (swarmers).
  
  

• Color: Creamy white (workers), black (swarmers).
  
  

• Behavior: Eat wood, causing serious structural damage if undetected.
  
  

• Signs:
  
  

  • Mud tubes on walls or foundation.
    
    

  • Hollow-sounding wood.
    
    

  • Discarded wings near windows.
    
    

• Hiding Spots: Underground nests, inside structural wood, under slabs, behind drywall.
  
  

3. Powderpost Beetles

• Size: 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
  
  

• Color: Reddish-brown to black.
  
  

• Behavior: Larvae bore into unfinished wood, leaving powdery frass.
  
  

• Signs:
  
  

  • Tiny round exit holes.
    
    

  • Fine sawdust piles.
    
    

  • Weakened structural beams or furniture.
    
    

• Hiding Spots: Hardwood floors, old barn wood, beams, and joists.
  
  

4. Carpenter Bees

• Size: 1/2 to 1 inch.
  
  

• Color: Yellow and black, shiny abdomen (unlike fuzzy bumblebees).
  
  

• Behavior: Bore into unpainted wood to lay eggs.
  
  

• Signs:
  
  

  • Round 1/2" holes in siding, decks, fascia, or railings.
    
    

  • Yellow stains below the holes.
    
    

  • Buzzing around rooflines.
    
    

• Hiding Spots: Eaves, fascia boards, deck rails, fences.
  
  

5. Wood-Boring Beetles (e.g., Longhorn Beetles)

• Size: Varies — up to 1 inch.
  
  

• Color: Often dark brown or black with long antennae.
  
  

• Behavior: Larvae bore deep into wood; adults lay eggs in cracks.
  
  

• Signs:
  
  

  • Oval exit holes.
    
    

  • Wood dust.
    
    

  • Visible larvae in tunnels (in extreme infestations).
    
    

• Hiding Spots: Logs, lumber, attic framing, antique furniture.
  
  

🛡️ PREVENTION STRATEGIES

🔧 General Prevention

• Seal Cracks: Around windows, doors, and foundations.
  
  

• Fix Leaks: Moisture attracts all of these insects.
  
  

• Ventilate: Use dehumidifiers in basements and crawlspaces.
  
  

• Trim Plants: Keep branches and mulch away from foundation.
  
  

🪵 Wood Protection

• Keep Firewood Elevated & Away: Store wood at least 20 feet from the house.
  
  

• Use Treated or Painted Wood: Carpenter bees and ants prefer bare wood.
  
  

• Inspect New Lumber: Especially reclaimed or rough-cut wood for beetles.
  
  

🏠 Structural Maintenance

• Replace rotted or moisture-damaged wood ASAP.
  
  

• Keep gutters clean and downspouts directed away from foundation.
  
  

• Check decks, porches, and crawlspaces seasonally.
  
  

🔥 HOW TO GET RID OF PROPERTY-DAMAGING INSECTS

1. Carpenter Ants

• Baits: Ant gel bait or sugar-based ant bait.
  
  

• Dusts/Sprays: Boric acid or insecticidal dust in wall voids and entry points.
  
  

• Professional: Recommended for wall infestations or satellite colonies.
  
  

2. Termites

• Bait Stations: Installed around the home to attract and poison colony.
  
  

• Soil Treatments: Professional liquid termiticide barrier around the foundation.
  
  

• Foam Injections: For active galleries inside walls.
  
  

3. Powderpost Beetles

• Surface Treatments: Bora-Care or Tim-bor (borate-based products).
  
  

• Replace Infested Wood: If structural integrity is compromised.
  
  

• Kiln Drying or Fumigation: For furniture or larger infestations.
  
  

4. Carpenter Bees

• Insecticidal Dust: Inject into holes (e.g. Delta Dust), then plug holes with dowels or wood filler after a few days.
  
  

• Paint/Stain Wood: Bees avoid painted surfaces.
  
  

• Bee Traps: Can reduce population around structures.
  
  

5. Wood-Boring Beetles

• Borate Treatments: Penetrate unfinished wood to kill larvae.
  
  

• Freezing/Fumigation: For antiques or small wooden items.
  
  

• Remove and Replace: Severely damaged wood.