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kitchen door, they are probably coming in from outside looking for food. If the activity is in a bathroom or near another moisture source, the nest is probably very close. + Have you had any wet wood, broken pipes or a leaky roof in the past year or two? Where? A structure that has had water-damaged wood or moisture problems is much more likely to be infested by carpenter ants than a building that is dry. + Have you noticed any little piles that look like sawdust? Carpenter ant "dump piles" are usually located just below the nest site. If no dump piles are found, it doesn't necessarily mean the nest is not inside. The piles could be inside a wall void and not visible. + Have you heard any strange noises inside the walls? Carpenter ants in the nest make a rustling sound like crinkling cellophane. If you hear this with your ear next to a wall, you've found a nest. There are quite a few products you can purchase at hardware and home stores that will provide a short-term barrier around your house. Professional pest products offer a lengthier residual, therefore protecting your home longer. Also with professional treatment comes the knowledge of the technician, and you can be confident that your home is being treated in the most effective manner. If you suspect that you have an interior ant problem, professional service is the best course of action. While many do-it-yourself sprays may stop the ants you see, these will not stop the activity going on behind your walls. Jennifer Savastino is part owner of Gannon Pest Control in Syracuse, New York. She is a lifelong resident of Central New York and has owned Gannon Pest Control with her partners for 18 years. Gannon Pest Control is located at 2925 Milton Ave. in Syracuse. ■ Ants, Ants and More Ants … By Jennifer Savastino M ANY PEOPLE ARE complaining about the number of ants they are seeing this year. While we usually see ants in the spring and early summer, the 2015 season seems to be bringing them out in droves. This is due to the extended winter that we had the "pleasure" of experiencing this past year. Ants (and all insects) need to find food to survive, and they look to your home for their buffet. Even though these ants may be trying to invade your home, most structures do not need a full inside/outside treatment this time of year. An exterior barrier treatment in the spring or early summer will keep the ants out and decrease the chances of the ants freeloading in your home. The information below can help you determine whether ants are nesting in your home or just foraging in from the outside. + When did you first notice the ants? If indoor ant activity has been going on for some time, the chances are greater that ants are nesting inside. + Do you see ants inside year-round? Outdoor ants will forage actively only when temperatures are above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. So, in cooler climates, if ants are seen indoors, it means an indoor nest. + How many ants do you see? Large numbers of ants foraging inside means an indoor nest is more likely. + Have you seen any ants with wings inside? How many? If the nest is outside, swarmers emerge outside. If many winged ants are seen inside, the nest is almost certainly within the structure. + Where do you see ants most often? If ants are regularly in a room that does not contain food, there's probably a nest nearby. If carpenter ants are mainly around an outside Ants, Ants and More Ants … +++++++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + +++ +++++++++++++++++++++++ HEALTHY HOMES ❯ 2 2 | Central New York MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M