Pest Inspections at Arrow Exterminators, Inc

A. No. Termites are the number one wood-destroying pest in the United States, hence its name is often attached to the so-called “Termite Report.” However, there are many other wood-destroying insects that are included in the report including, but not limited to:

• Carpenter Ants – Carpenter ants vary somewhat in color (although most of them tend to be a light red or burnt orange color), but they are easily recognizable by their size. These ants are the giants of the ant family and are by far the largest ants found in North America. Carpenter ants are extremely destructive little pests, burrowing deep into the wood of homes, businesses and all sorts of other structures to make their nests and look for food. Unlike termites, they don’t eat wood; they chew through it to make pathways for themselves and the rest of their colony. They primarily eat other insects and plant juices. However, just because they don’t eat wood doesn’t mean they aren’t incredibly destructive. A carpenter ant infestation can be incredibly damaging to your home and extremely expensive to fix.
• Carpenter Bees – male Carpenter bees have no stingers and female Carpenter bees rarely if ever attack, but that’s not what worries homeowners about these little buzzing pests. Like Carpenter ants, they nest in wood and will drill their way through most woods to prepare a nest for themselves. They can significantly weaken important structural components through the holes they make, not to mention that these holes are not very attractive to look at. These large black and yellow insects look a lot like overgrown bumblebees except that their abdomen is shiny and black, whereas a bumblebee’s would be fuzzy and yellow. While Carpenter bees general prefer softer, unpainted woods, they can be damaging for homes with any kind of wood. If you do have Carpenter bees, it is important to have them relocated, rather than exterminated if possible as they are generally beneficial pollinators.
• Old House Borers – these pests are a brownish-black color and generally about 5/8″ to 1″ long. Contrary to their name, “Old House Borers” most often attach themselves to newer homes between four and seven years old. However, they can be found in homes older or newer than that range as well. Infestations of Old House Borers usually originate in the timber used to build a home and as the insects come to maturity they tunnel their way out of the wood causing damage to the structure. These damaging effects can be compounded in areas where there is a great deal of moisture in the wood (such as with a leaky roof, leaky pipes or poor ventilation).
• Powderpost Beetles – this term refers to a family of pests that are very small, around 1/8″ long, and reddish-brown in color. However, don’t let their minuscule size fool you. This group of pests can be one of the most destructive of any of the wood-destroying pests. They are also one of the hardest to identify, which makes them even more of a problem for many homeowners. Their larvae attack both soft and hardwoods, and some types of this bug also prefer to attack damp wood (leaky roof, leaky pipes, or poorly ventilated areas which could dampen structural timbers). As the larvae burrow into the wood to feed they create winding tunnels throughout the wood. As they work their way through our structural timbers, they essentially reduce the wood to a powder, severely weakening the structure and causing extensive damage.