Noises in the wall? Could be a carpenter ant satellite nest

Randy Bilesky BScF CPA RPF

President at Go Green

What’s Going On?

  • Carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they chew through it to build nests.

  • A satellite nest is a secondary colony, often built indoors (like in wall voids), while the main nest is outdoors in a tree, stump, or deadwood.

  • If you’re hearing chewing, it’s likely a serious infestation — they’re expanding the nest or foraging.


🚩 Signs of Carpenter Ants in Walls

  • Faint rustling or chewing noises, especially at night.

  • Frass: piles of sawdust-like material near walls or baseboards.

  • Large black ants, especially winged ones (swarmers).

  • Soft or hollow-sounding wood.


🛠️ What You Should Do

1. Locate the Nest

  • Try to find entry points: gaps, holes, or areas where frass is appearing.

  • Carpenter ants often nest near moisture — leaky pipes, roof leaks, or bathrooms.

2. Treat the Nest

  • Dust insecticides like boric acid or diatomaceous earth can work if applied directly.

  • Insecticidal foams can penetrate wall voids.

  • Use ant baits to feed the colony — they take the poison back to the nest.

3. Call a Professional

  • Since it’s a satellite nest in a wall, call Go Green Pest Control experts, highly recommended.

  • We help track down both main and satellite nests and ensure total removal.

4. Long-Term Prevention

  • Fix moisture problems.

  • Seal gaps, vents, and entry points.

  • Remove wood piles or tree stumps near your home.

  • https://gogreenpestcontrol.ca/noises-in-the-wa…t-satellite-nest
  • https://insectandrodentexterminators.com/noises-in-the-wall-could-be-a-carpenter-ant-satellite-nest/
  • https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/noises-wall-could-carpenter-ant-satellite-nest-randy-bilesky-ewtrf
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