Insect and Spider Identification: Little critters that appeared after getting new couch, 0 by speediebean

speediebean wrote:
Ian, that looks JUST like what we've got swarming around our front door!! (see attached pic). Now, after all the researching I have done, I firmly believe they are carpenter ants. However, we had Orkin come out, and that guy insisted that they are not, but just "regular winged ants". I think he was just too concerned that if they were treated like carpenter ants, it would cost us $200 bucks more for the service. DH told him we don't care about the cost, just GET RID OF 'EM... the long-run cost is so much more if we don't treat 'em right, but he insisted....

OK, that all being said, they look an awful lot like this pic you shared here. Dark brown/black, 2 sets of wings - with the upper pair being longer than the lower pair - a pinched-in "waist", bent (like an elbow) antennae, and about 1/2 inch long.

So, my guess is (and mind you, this is just a strong guess) that it's carpenter ants. A few questions though: This new furniture; is it wood? Are there any solid wood parts to the furniture? Carpenter ants like to BURROW into wood, but they do not eat it, (like termites do). Where was the furniture (being stored) when/before you brought it home? Any possibilities of damp condition where it was stored? (and yes, even a furniture store warehouse can provide those damp conditions - leaky roof near where your furniture was sitting and BINGO!).

Now, if that's what they are, (for both of us!), what are we gonna do about it?? < =/

EDIT: to say, I captured one 'cause we're supposed to have a termite-specific inspector come out soon and I want him to see close up what they look like alive. It's in one of those tiny Glad-ware containers, and I put a dime in it as a size reference. Still trying to get clearer pics, but the iPod isn't as good as I'd like it to be for close-ups. =/

This message was edited Jun 14, 2013 4:40 AM