Carpenter ants seek out moist, decaying wood and excavate large galleries where they nest indoors. These pests do not eat the wood they damage. Signs of carpenter ant wood damage include:
Carpenter bees target bare, unpainted wood and create tunnels for nesting chambers. These pests do not eat the wood they excavate. Signs of carpenter bee wood damage include:
Photo credit: Scot Nelson (public domain)
Termites seek out areas with abundant wood and moisture. These pests eat wood, so there are no telltale sawdust piles. Termites may live in soil and travel back and forth to feed on wood. Signs of termite wood damage include:
By the time you discover wood-damaging pests, the harm they've done may be extensive. With carpenter bees, you're more likely to catch damage early on. But carpenter ants and termites often go unnoticed until they've established large, destructive colonies.
While wood fillers take care of brand-new entry holes, especially for carpenter bees, long-standing infestations of any wood-damaging pest can mean major repairs or reconstruction. Professional structural inspections can help you assess pest damage and protect your home's integrity and value.
