If you’ve noticed large ants crawling around your baseboards—or worse, winged ants fluttering near windows—you’re probably dealing with carpenter ants. And while they don’t sting like wasps or chew through food like some other pests, they can quietly carve up your home from the inside out.
Whether it’s your first encounter or you’ve been battling them for a while, here’s how to tell if you have an infestation and what actually works to get rid of carpenter ants and flying carpenter ants.
Spotting the Problem: Signs You’re Dealing with Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants don’t always make a grand entrance. They tend to show up one or two at a time—until suddenly they don’t.
A Quick Visual Guide:
- They’re big—usually between ¼” to ½” long
- Typically black, though some have reddish or brownish tones
- Elbowed antennae and a defined waist (unlike termites)
Seeing Winged Ants Indoors?
That’s not a great sign. Flying carpenter ants are swarmers—the reproductive members of a mature colony. If they’re inside, there’s likely a nest somewhere within your walls, attic, or crawlspace.
Other Red Flags:
- Fine sawdust piles (called frass) near windows, baseboards, or siding
- Strange rustling sounds inside walls
- Shed wings on window sills
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
If you’re in Columbus or anywhere across Central Ohio, these signs are fairly common during the spring and summer when ant colonies are most active.
Why Flying Carpenter Ants Are a Big Deal
Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood—they hollow it out to make room for their nests. Over time, that kind of tunneling can weaken structural beams, walls, and insulation. And if you’re seeing flying ants indoors, it usually means the colony is well-established and ready to expand.
Not sure if you’re looking at termites or carpenter ants? Here’s a quick comparison:
|
Carpenter Ants |
Termites |
|
Pinched waist |
Straight-sided body |
|
Elbowed antennae |
Straight antennae |
|
Uneven wing lengths |
Wings same length |
|
Don’t eat wood—just nest in it |
Actually consume wood |
How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants and Flying Carpenter Ants
Here’s the truth: surface sprays and hardware store baits might take out a few ants, but they rarely solve the root of the problem. To get real results, you’ll need to go a bit deeper.
Step-by-Step:
How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants and Flying Carpenter Ants
- Pinpoint where the ants are nesting (inside and outside)
- Fix any moisture issues in walls, basements, or attic spaces
- Use slow-acting baits or non-repellent sprays (professional grade is best, over the counter is often not successful)
- Treat entry points, trails, and nest areas directly
- Call a carpenter ant pest control expert if they keep coming back
Let’s break these down a little further.
1. Find the Nest (or Nests)
Carpenter ants often build satellite colonies, so even if you find one nest, there might be others tucked away in the walls or attic. Outdoors, check around stumps, dead trees, or even woodpiles.
2. Dry Things Out
These ants love moisture-damaged wood. Fix leaky pipes, improve airflow in crawlspaces, and check your gutters. The drier your structure is, the less appealing it becomes.
3. Use the Right Products
Slow-acting baits work best because they give ants time to carry poison back to the nest. Non-repellent sprays are helpful too, especially along ant trails or wall voids.
4. Treat the Source—Not Just the Symptoms
It’s tempting to spray ants on sight, but unless you’re treating their actual nest, they’ll keep coming back. That’s where a professional pest control service can make a real difference.
Professional Ant Control in Columbus & Central Ohio
At Elite Pest & Termite Control, we’ve helped homeowners and business owners all over Central Ohio tackle carpenter ant problems—whether it’s a swarm in the kitchen or a nest buried in the wall.
Our team knows where to look, how to treat every type of infestation, and how to keep ants from coming back. Plus, our treatments are tailored to your space, safe for pets, and designed to go beyond the surface.
If you’re seeing flying ants or signs of a nest, let’s take a closer look before they do any more damage. Book an inspection here.
How to Prevent Carpenter Ants From Coming Back
Once they’re gone, here’s how to keep them out:
- Seal gaps around windows, doors, and foundation cracks
- Move mulch and firewood at least a few feet from your home
- Replace water-damaged wood and fix leaks quickly
- Schedule regular pest inspections, especially in older homes
A little prevention goes a long way when it comes to carpenter ants.
When to Call for Backup
If you’re seeing more than a few ants—or any flying ones—it’s time to bring in a pro. At a certain point, DIY options just don’t cut it. You might knock down a few scouts, but the colony behind your drywall? That’s a job for trained eyes and proven tools.
We offer carpenter ant control across Columbus, Dublin, Westerville, and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re dealing with ants in a rental property, your business, or your own home, we’ve got the tools and experience to help.
FAQs About Carpenter Ants
Professional baiting and treatment plans. DIY sprays rarely reach the entire colony.
Not to people—but yes, to your home’s structure. They often indicate a mature nest.
Not effectively. They might disrupt a trail but won’t stop an infestation.
You’ll often see results within a few days, but full removal depends on how many nests are present.
Look for elbowed antennae and a narrow waist—those are carpenter ants. Termites have straight antennae and bodies.
Don’t Wait Until It Gets Worse
If you think you have carpenter ants—or you’re seeing flying ants inside—don’t wait for the damage to grow. Contact Us today for expert ant removal that gets to the root of the problem.