Don't just kill the workers — eliminate the colony. Licensed bilingual exterminators serving Montreal & the South Shore. Same-day inspection available.
Carpenter ants are the largest ants in Quebec. They don't eat wood, but they excavate galleries in it to nest — usually targeting moist or damaged wood first.
Workers are 6-12mm long, typically black or dark brown. Seeing more than a few inside — especially near windows, baseboards, or in the kitchen — is a strong signal of an established nest nearby.
Carpenter ants push debris out of their galleries. Small piles of fine wood shavings (sometimes mixed with insect parts) near baseboards, window sills, or in basements indicate active excavation.
Large colonies are sometimes audible — a faint crackling or rustling inside walls, especially at night when the colony is most active.
In April-June, reproductive carpenter ants (alates) emerge to mate. Finding winged ants indoors — particularly near windows — often means a mature colony is nearby.
Tap suspect areas — door frames, window sills, deck posts. Wood that sounds hollow or feels soft may host galleries. Visible galleries appear smooth and clean (unlike termite damage which contains mud).
Carpenter ants often forage 100+ meters from the nest. Trails on tree trunks, deck posts, or along your foundation suggest a satellite or parent colony nearby.
The goal is the queen, not just the workers you see. Killing foragers without treating the colony is a treadmill — the nest keeps producing.
Identify species, locate nesting sites (often in damp wood, behind walls, under insulation), and find conducive conditions like leaks or wood-soil contact that need correction.
Targeted baits and applications that workers carry back to feed the queen. Treatment is placed at entry points, foraging trails, and suspected nest locations — not just where you see the ants.
Verification visit to confirm colony elimination. Recommendations for moisture control, wood storage, and tree branches contacting the structure to prevent re-establishment.
Carpenter ants are a Quebec specialty — old housing stock, lots of trees, and humidity make Montreal one of the most carpenter-ant-prone regions in Canada.
Montreal, Laval, South Shore, and surrounding municipalities.
From our blog. Real biology, no scare tactics.
How a satellite nest differs from a parent nest, why queens can live 15+ years, and how a colony can quietly grow for years before you see signs.
The pest types showing up most often in our service calls this month. Carpenter ants are at peak activity right now.
How to tell carpenter ants from common pavement ants and little black ants. Size, behavior, and damage differences explained for Quebec homeowners.
Wasp biology overview if you're also seeing flying insects around your property.
Common questions before you book.
Carpenter ants are large (often 6-12mm), typically black or dark brown, with a single segmented waist and a smoothly rounded thorax (no spine). Workers are wingless; winged reproductives appear in spring. The smaller ants you see in the kitchen are usually pavement ants or odorous house ants — different treatment approach.
Carpenter ants don't eat wood, but they excavate galleries in moist or damaged wood to nest. Established colonies in structural wood can weaken framing over years. Early detection and colony treatment are how to prevent structural cost.
Yes, same-day inspection is available across Montreal and the South Shore when scheduled by mid-afternoon. Call 438-879-5706 for current availability.
Spraying visible ants only kills foragers. The colony — including the queen — survives and continues producing more workers. Effective treatment uses baits and targeted application that workers carry back to the nest, eliminating the queen and the entire colony.
Modern carpenter ant baits are designed for targeted use in cracks, voids, and along entry points where pets and children cannot easily access them. Specific safety guidance is provided per treatment based on the products applied.
Carpenter ants enter a winter dormancy. Spring emergence is when they're most visible — workers foraging for food, alates flying to mate. Not seeing them in fall doesn't mean the colony is gone; it means they're slowing down. Treatment is most effective in spring and early summer.
Treatment includes a follow-up verification visit to confirm the colony was eliminated. We don't sell extended warranty periods — we focus on doing the job right the first time. If the verification visit shows something wasn't fully resolved by the initial treatment, we address it on that visit.
Call now to book today's inspection or send us the details and we'll call you back within the hour during business hours.
📞 438-879-5706