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July 1, 2019 Carpenter ants may seem harmless, but they can be a nuisance. Once they find a damp and dark space to live in, they can begin to breed at a rapid pace. We at Advantage Pest Control have seen how carpenter ant infestations can get out of hand, if not treated in the early stages. Signs You Have an Ant Infestation Look for a very high concentration of ants in specific areas, such as under your kitchen sink. Listen for sounds of an active ant colony. They will typic

April 22, 2019 April showers can potentially bring May Carpenter Ants to your household this spring. There are two types of carpenter ants commonly found in Canada , the black and red carpenter ant. They are known for their ability to cause damage to wooden structures. They build their nests by burrowing and digging tunnels into wood. Although they do not eat wood, they break it down creating saw-dust like shavings. You’ll typically find these pests indoors near moist or deca

December 17, 2018 Ants love to carry their food and resources on a day to day basis. However, the truth is that they can also carry harmful pathogens that can jeopardize your health too. According to studies , ants can carry bacteria and organisms that can harm the human body. In one study done at a medical hospital in Brazil, ants were proven as a potential vector for opportunistic and pathogenic bacteria. As a result of this, they pose a risk of causing nosocomial infection

November 5, 2018 If you think ants are not a big pest problem, think again! These pests are small in size, but they are mighty! Ant infestation can happen quickly and can cause structural damage to your home. Ants have a large range of species, totalling close to 12,000 in the world. From this number, 186 ant species live in Canada. The most common ants found in Canadian homes are the carpenter, odorous house, pharaoh, thief, and little black ants. The first step to stopping

August 28, 2018 Did you know that ants could fly? Well, most people think that ants only crawl, but there are instances that ants can be seen flying around houses or in the garden. These flying ants are both a sign of mating and infestation. Therefore, if you have spotted flying ants in your home, it is best to seek a pest control services as soon as possible to prevent further infestation. Here at Advantage Pest Control, we can take care of ant infestations at your home, bac

February 16, 2018 Carpenter ants are prevalent destructive pests at home. If you want to know if your place is housing Carpenter ants, here are some of the warning signs you must look for: First warning sign: When Carpenter ants get into your house, the first thing they do is to send their worker ants to hunt some food. You might see a few worker ants in your home and this can be considered as a first sign that something more is hidden in your house. Carpenter Ants are large

July 17, 2017 Ants of all different types can invade our homes. From pavement ants to pharaoh ants and odorous house ants, they are all unwanted pests! These pests can show up without any notice and take over. However, one ant that causes the most damage is the carpenter ant. They are known for their ability to cause damage to your home by chewing away at wooden structures. Although they do not eat wood like termites, they still cause damage by creating tubular galleries to h

June 26, 2017 The life of a carpenter ant begins with the nuptial flight. This mating course usually happens in late spring or early summer. At this time, “swarmers” (male winged carpenter ants) mate with winged females. After mating, the females shed their wings and the males die off. Female ants then look for a new home to build their colonies. The queen of the colony is essential to the life cycle of the carpenter ant. She creates the first batch of eggs and stays with th

March 13, 2017 It’s that time of year, when Carpenter ants are claiming their territory in your home! Spring is their budding season, so they begin to wake with warmer temperatures. Although sometimes these pests go unnoticed, you may catch them in action in your home. Carpenter ants are known to damage wood by using their woodcutting mandibles. If you dare to threaten their nest, they will strike back! These pests are equipped to chomp down. But what if they bite you? Their

February 27, 2017 Carpenter Ants can be both indoor and outdoor pests. As the weather gets warmer, they will retreat out of their hibernation, looking for a place to live with resources. So don’t be surprised to see more of these pests out and about! They like to stay close to areas with moisture and food, primarily wood! Inside your home, they like areas such as ceilings, inside walls, or any other areas of structural support. These areas usually have a lot of wood and make

February 21, 2017 We are excited to finally enjoy the change in weather to positive temperatures over the past few days. With it only being mid-February, this means Spring is well on it’s way! However, you may want to be weary of some unwanted visitors who may also be excited for warm weather too – carpenter ants! During cold winter months, carpenter ants are usually dormant. Their body temperatures can fluctuate to match their environment. So when temperatures drop, they can

December 19, 2016 Carpenter Ants are another home owner pest to be aware of in Toronto! Their swarming season is just around the corner! As a pest problem, sometimes they are confused with termites . Similar to termites, they are known for their ability to damage wood structures. Although carpenter ants do not actually eat the wood, they mill it by breaking it down for their nests. Physically, their antennae are bent which help make them more distinctive. So why the concern?

August 24, 2016 From park picnics to invading our homes, we have all had to deal with ants! Ants can be particularly annoying to get ride of, especially once they have set up their homes. Specifically, urban ants have their own risks and challenges. The more you understand about these challenges and preventions the easier it will be to protect your home! Facts about urban ants: The Sweet Life Just like us, ants have a sweet tooth too! Junk food, sugary and high carb foods are

April 15, 2016 Winter is usually the time of the year where home owners get a break from worrying about carpenter ants munching on their home. But this past January and February has seen well-above zero temperatures for Ontario causing the ants to be quite confused. Carpenter ants have been thinking that spring is on the way and are coming out of their dormancy state a lot earlier than normal. Prevalence in the GTA has been up 40 percent this season! Read the full article and