You might be aware that termites aren’t much of a threat in Maine, but did you know that there are plenty of other wood-destroying insects that can wreak havoc in your home?
Consider carpenter ants and carpenter bees as well as powderpost beetles. They can cause a lot of damage, which can cost a lot of money if you don’t know the warning signs they leave behind and the steps you need to take to eliminate these threatening pests.
Carpenter ants are large, black, red, or both red and black in color. They can cause damage to structures. They are not venomous, they rarely bite, and they do not spread illnesses, but carpenter ants nest inside wood, which is how they can cause damage to wooden structures. If you have an infestation, you may see small exit holes with “sawdust” below them. Inside the wood, where you cannot see, will become hollow as they tunnel through and build cavities to live and nest in. They will have started outdoors and wandered into your home while they were looking for food and, once indoors, they may develop a satellite colony to be close to their food source.
Carpenter bees are large bees that look similar to bumble bees, but their abdomens are hairless and their bellies are shiny and black. Female carpenter bees have stingers but are not usually aggressive. You will know you have an infestation if you find ½” holes in unfinished, bare, and weathered wood, with sawdust piles and possibly yellow staining below from feces. Male carpenter bees will protect their nests and be quite aggressive. These bees are drawn to soft, unpainted, unstained, weathered woods where it will be easy for them to bore and tunnel in to build their nests.
Powderpost beetles can grow to up to 3/16” in length and are usually black to reddish-brown in color. The actual damage caused by these beetles is done by the larvae, which once hatched will eat thin tunnels in the wood. Once they become adults they chew a larger hole to exit through. They have the ability to bite but rarely do.
In the case of any wood-destroying insect, if you see any signs of their presence in your home, you should take care of it right away. In the South Portland area, contact Big Blue Bug Solutions as soon as possible so that we can help you get rid of all of them effectively and efficiently. We also make sure that you don’t have to suffer through another infestation again. Give us a call at Big Blue Bug Solutions to find out more about our year-round home protection plans.