What Damages Can Ants Cause?
Identifying the signs of ant infestation early is key to protecting your property. In this guide, we take a deep dive into the ants that affect homes and the potential damage they leave behind.
1. Carpenter Ants: The Major Culprit
While most ants are just a nuisance, carpenter ants can cause serious damage to the structure of your home. Unlike termites, which eat wood, carpenter ants tunnel through it to build their nests. They tend to go for wooden studs, subflooring, and support posts in crawl spaces. This damage can compromise the integrity of your home’s structure if left unchecked.
2. Other Ant Species: Minimal to No Damage
Most common ant species, such as odorous house ants (also called sugar ants) or pavement ants, aren’t a threat to your home’s structure. However, in large numbers, pavement ants could cause slight damage to concrete surfaces like driveways or garages, especially if they create large tunnels underneath.
Sugar Ant Description
Size
The sugar ant is very small—measuring about 2.4-3.3mm long. They are typically about as small as a pencil eraser. Although they are small, they quickly become noticeable as they swarm around food or stream through your home in a line.
Color
Sugar ants are typically black in color.
Smell
This might sound strange, but when crushed, sugar ants release an unpleasant, coconut-smelling odor. Sugar ants have a gland that releases this smell and it’s why they are called the odorous house ant.
