🚀 go-pugleaf

I had carpenter ants in my townhouse.  They just look like regular big 
black ants.  They weren't really a problem.  Just annoying...I didn't 
really worry about them since I was just renting.

But they did become a problem when the nest decided to expand.  They send 
out new queens to establish new nests.  The new queens are huge and they 
have wings.  My roommates and I came home to there room full of these 
huge flying ants.  It was quite gross.  We almost filled up her little 
vacum cleaner full with ants.  Though they are harmless (they don't sting) 
they still give me the willies.

Oh and be careful of exterminators...we had one that came in and 
identified them as wasps.  I even knew they weren't wasps.

I don't know what kind of damage they can cause to your home but they 
didn't get into food or anything like that.  

dave

Pam Jadwick (pam.jadwick@jhuapl.edu) wrote:
: In article <5o7pvp$7lo@ari.ari.net>, gmg@mtolympus.ari.net (Gary M.
: Gettier) wrote:

: > I've seen a few ants in my house. I called two exterminators. No one has
: > been out yet. But, I get two very different stories:
: > 
: > One says carpenter ants are a MAJOR problem (much worse than termites) and
: > is hinting at a $600+ charge (they claim they are the only ones who do
: > this and THIS is the only way to remove them).
: > 
: > The other one doesn't think its that much of a fuss, and thinks it will
: > cost much less.
: > 
: > Both are coming tomorrow for an estimate.
: > 
: > I'd like to hear stories from others regarding carpenter ants.
: > 
: > TIA.
: > 
: > Gary

: Something I can't get straight:  do carpenter ants look like ants or like
: bees?  All of a sudden we are finding these big black ants in our house,
: but my husband says that carpenter ants look like bees and drill holes in
: wood.  Can someone explain, please?