In the NW, the Home Inspector, assuming they are a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector, had best be on the lookout for ants wandering around the exterior of the building----especially Carpenter Ants. On a recent inspection of a building with EIFS siding (Synthetic Stucco), I noticed Carpenter Ants trailing along the sidewalk. Following the trail I found where they were coming and going from the building at a hole under some door trim. Note the Carpenter Ant at the center of the picture. This is almost never going to be a good thing and I made a mental note to make sure I checked this area closely both at the interior of the building and in the crawl space. Nothing was apparent at the interior, but when I got to the area in the crawl space that was under this door this is what I found. Piles of Carpenter Ant Frass----almost entirely made up of foam insulation from the EIFS siding. This is a really good example of how these ants don’t eat the wood----they merely mine it to create places to store their eggs and have ant parties. If you look closely at this “frass” you can see a dead Carpenter Ant, some wood “sawdust,” little beads of foam and----of course----cobwebs. Carpenter Ants are very opportunistic and will tunnel in wood or foam. Foam is really easy to mine----so why not. If you are having a property inspected in the NW----make sure that the inspector is a Licensed Structural Pest Inspector----otherwise, they might not even know that the ants they didn’t notice were Carpenter Ants and that even if they had noticed them they would not be allowed (by state law) to say what they were. You might then be looking at either another inspection---or risk finding out later about them----after much more damage had been done.
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Although I think this is gross to look and think about, it is reality. Ants are like party animals that can keep haunting you if there isn't a proper treatment done. Thanks for the info Charles.
You have to give them credit for chosing a good warm place to nest.
Brenda, they certainly have a place in nature----we just need to keep them out of our structures
Jim, for sure----they will out survive humans I am sure.
Charles, I always learn something on your blogs. Thanks for the very well-illustrated piece.
Nice catch.
Interesting I never new they eat foam, so they have there own little farm lol
Enjoy the day
Janice, I hope you find them helpful
Don, they don't actually "eat" the stuff----just remove it
As an agent when a client sees ants and asks, "What are those ants"", I say, "What ants?" Then I tell them about the Washington law. Ants are an excellent species when they live outside of human habitations. They aerate the soil and clean up detritus that is lying around. Go ants.
Nothing will destroy a home quicker than carpenter ants, termites or water. Hopefully this problem is rectified soon or the second floor will be on the first floor!
Charlie - you always have the best pix - glad those weren't from our last meeting:)
Glenn, yup----the key is to keep them out of our houses----they don't know there is a difference
Craig, and ultimately there is no way to stop it forever----we just do our best to slow it down.
Courtney----so am I :)
Not the life we envision for ourselves but for an Ant we can only suspect, Wow!
Ironic that 'carpenter' ants can be so destructive. You'd think they would spend their time building tiny little ant villages.
Paul, styrofoam to ants is a dream come true :)
John, only to humans are ants destructive----and compared to what we do do the planet they are not destrutive at all.
Charlie,
It is always satisfying to discover that the outside clue lead to pay dirt inside.
That's good information Charlie. I have heard that stucco is a great ant buffet, but this is sure proof!
Great pictures!
Steve, ain't that true. It is frustrating when you find ants all over the place outside and find no evidence inside.
Jay, I have seen them in the stuff before but never quite this much evidence :)
Hi Charles,
That was a very informative post.
I learned something.
PHil
Ants make me crazy! I was on the warpath and after them most of last spring. I think I did some damage.
Phil, you are welcome
Lizette, "I think I did some damage." Love it :)
We have plenty of problems with carpenter ants down here in Florida as well!