Randy Bilesky BScF CPA RPF
President at Go Green
April 8, 2025
Carpenter ants typically excavate wood at a slow to moderate pace. The actual rate of excavation can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the colony, the type of wood, and the environmental conditions. In general:
- Small to medium colonies: These might remove a small amount of wood over several weeks or months, depending on the size of the nest and how much wood is available.
- Larger colonies: Larger colonies can excavate wood more quickly, but it still tends to be a gradual process. In some cases, a large colony could remove up to a few cubic inches of wood over a few months.
However, carpenter ants don’t consume the wood they excavate. Instead, they create galleries and tunnels by scraping the wood into small bits, which they then push out of their nests. This process results in piles of fine wood debris or “sawdust” near the nesting site.
So while they can excavate wood over time, it’s generally a slow process. Significant damage typically occurs over several years if left unchecked, especially in the case of larger or older infestations.
: https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/how-fast-do-carp…hrough-your-home/
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