Carpenter Ant Control

Carpenter ants are a menace to homeowners. Preferring hollow or moist woods they will cut tunnels deep into the grain. These passageways lead from section to section of the ant nest. The more wood, the bigger the nest. And, the removal of wood from your house walls means a bigger chance of rot and structural damage. The good news is there is a way to spot the nests and treat the area. Since these large ants don’t eat wood they leave behind sawdust, mixed with the bodies of dead ants, near the entrance of each tunnel. There are natural, diy ways to eradicate these pests. Or, you can go the hands-off route with a professional exterminator. Either way, it’s important to get a jump on the problem as soon as it becomes apparent. Otherwise, you could be in for some serious home repair bills.

Frequently Asked Questions ( 6 )   Add a Question

  1. I see ants around my house. How do I know if they are carpenter ants?
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    Carpenter ants are the largest ant in the United States. They can be as big as 13mm and have large mandibles. They vary slightly in color, but tend to be black with reddish highlights.

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  2. What are some signs that I have carpenter ants?
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    Beyond the aforementioned piles of sawdust, look for winged ants mixed in with other ants. The "swarmers" mean that the colony is mature and well-established. You may also hear rustling in your walls near the colony entrances.  

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  3. Will a carpenter ant bite me?
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    Carpenter ants will bite in defense of their colony. The carpenter ant mandibles are large and will leave painful, broken skin bites.  They also spray formic acid into the bite which causes the pain to magnify. This could be especially dangerous to very small children and pets.

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  4. What's an effective DIY control method?
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    The most effective DIY carpenter ant treatment is boric acid. This comes in both powder and liquid baits. However, this common bait mix must be used precisely or it will not kill the entire colony.  You may only succeed in taking out one of the satellite nests and not the area where the queen lives. As long as she reigns the nest will not die.

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  5. How does boric acid kill carpenter ants?
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    Boric acid kills ants via poisoning the digestive system. The acid adheres to the ant's legs and is then ingested as the ant grooms. In theory, the ant tracks the dust back to the nest where it can reach ants that remain closer to the inner colony areas.

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  6. What will a pest control company do to get rid of my carpenter ants?
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    Depending on the company a variety of steps will be taken to stop carpenter ants from damaging your home. With a full-service company, like Orkin, they treat and prevent at the same time. An inspection will be conducted first. Once nests are located. baits may be laid down. A non-repellent spray will be used to make sure the ants will infect the entire nests as they move from section to section. Once that is in place for a few days, any breaks in the walls will be filled with ant bait foam. After this has had time to eradicate the colony further steps should be taken to seal holes, remove rot and clear any debrie that will attract new colonies. 

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