Getting Rid of Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ant Infestation!
Have you noticed large, black ants marching in your home? You’re not alone! Because the nests of carpenter ants are long-lived, carpenter ants can damage your home over time; in particular, foam insulation is frequently damaged by carpenter ants. It is in your best interest to protect your home from carpenter ants. Fortunately, pest control for carpenter ants is within your reach.

First, you need to figure out whether the carpenter ants are nesting inside your home or whether they’re coming in for food.

Locating A Carpenter Ant Nest
Carpenter ants are frequently seen in homes in the spring and summer months. You can usually tell whether the nest is inside or outside depending on what time of year you notice them. If you notice carpenter ants in late winter or early spring (February or March), then the carpenter ant nest is probably located within your home! If, on the other hand, you first notice carpenter ants during the spring and summer months (May or June), the nest is probably outdoors but the ants are coming in to feast on your scrap food!

Carpenter ants actually have two types of nests — parent colonies and satellite colonies. Often, the nests in your home may be the satellite colony of a parent nest located outside. It’s therefore important to stop ants from nesting inside your home and to stop ants from getting inside your home.

You need to follow the ants to their lair. Place a bit of honey on the non-stick side of duct tape. Be patient and wait until the ants come out for the honey. Once they’ve taken their share, follow the ants to find out where their nest is located.

Remember that night is the best time of day, as carpenter ants are mainly active during the night.

Pest Control for Carpenter Ants : Inside the Home
Carpenter ants will nest in either dry or moist wood, but they prefer to nest in moist wood. That’s why you’ll frequently notice carpenter ants wherever there is moist wood — around sinks, bathtubs or improperly flashed chimneys.

Find the carpenter ant nest by tapping the blunt end of a screwdriver against the wall. Once you hear that hollow sound, you’ve found your spot. If the nest is nearby, you’ll hear the carpenter ants make a rustling noise after you beat the wall with the screwdriver.

The idea is to destroy the nest, which sometimes proves to be a difficult task. Once you’ve found the general location of the nest (be it behind a wall or in a porch column), drill a succession of small holes (about 1/8 inch wide) and puff boric acid in the holes. Once the ants make contact with the boric acid, they will be killed.

Pest Control for Carpenter Ants : Outside the Home
Your best pest control is preventing carpenter ants from setting up satellite colonies within your home. Here are some tips for keeping carpenter ants out of your home: