While many of you might think of ants as more of an annoyance, carpenter ants can cause actual destruction and damage to your home. thus making these ants a far more severe threat. Carpenter ants are highly capable of damaging any wood in which they nest, and if you ever try to threaten carpenter ants or destroy their nest, then they might bite you in defense.
In general, carpenter ant bites are not dangerous to humans. While they are relatively harmless to us, they are not harmless to the wood in our house. These insects do not eat wood like termites, but they do tunnel through it to build their galleries and colonies.
Will Carpenter Ants Bite a Human?
While it’s common to assume that only red fire ants bite, these carpenter ants are also likely to take a snap at you if you get too close. Carpenter ants have large jaws that are robust enough to bite through wood, and when the nests of carpenter ants are disturbed or interrupted, they bite in defense.
Due to their large size, the bite of a carpenter ant can be painful, and it can even break the skin. In addition, Carpenter Ants spray a chemical of formic acid in defense. They can spray this chemical into the bite wound that further increases the pain and stiffness. In general, carpenter ants use this ability to fight humans and other insects when threatened or when they are on the hunt for their next insect meal. Though carpenter ants can bite you, it is not common, and they are likely to do this only in self-defense.
Does a Carpenter Ant Bite Hurt?
If a carpenter ant bites you, you can undoubtedly expect some pain. The mandibles of carpenter ants are pretty strong, and a normal bite will feel like you have been pinched very hard. In multiple cases, the bite by a carpenter ant will result in a sensation of burning. The bites of these ants frequently break the skin, resulting in a small t amount of blood after suffering a bite.
The initial bite of carpenter ant can be rather painful, but it is followed by localized irritation which is quite similar to a bee sting. Although carpenter ant bites hurt, these ants bite rarely, and the bites do not spread any diseases or infections. They are simply trying to protect their colony and their queen, so just make sure you don’t get too close.
How To Treat a Carpenter Ant Bite
After experiencing a carpenter ant’s bite, you should immediately clean the wounds with warm water and soap. After cleaning, apply antibiotic ointment to the wound if you find your skin broken. Later, bandage the wound if desired. Make sure to avoid scratching the wounds for several days that may start to itch or burn. You can apply ice cubes to the wounds of carpenter ant bites to help you reduce the itching.
Apart from this, some common kitchen or household items can also help you treat a carpenter ant bite. These items include:
- Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Honey
- Cucumber
- Tooth Paste
- Salt
- Olive Oil etc.
Though getting bitten by a Carpenter Ant is pretty rare, but if you are ever caught in such a situation, one of the remedies listed above can help.
Contact Clegg’s To Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Today!
If you have been bitten by a carpenter ant in your home, there’s a good chance that there are more waiting about. Carpenter ants can hide in the walls of your home and cause damage to the inner workings of your house without you knowing it. If you are suspicious of carpenter ants hiding in your home, fill out the free inspection form below so that we can rid your home of these pests.
