Carpenter Ants Removal – How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants have a bad reputation, and with good reason. These large insects are able to tunnel through wood and can do serious damage within our homes. They also carry bacteria and if not treated promptly can create a serious health hazard for your family. Luckily there are a few things you can do to prevent and control carpenter ant infestations.
Step 1 – Eliminate Scent Trails
Carpenter Ants Removal rely on pheromone trails to mark their paths and discover food sources. Disrupting these trails can break the ants’ connection to your home. You can do this by cleaning surfaces where the ants have been. You can also use a cotton ball dipped in essential oils like tea tree, lemon, orange or cedarwood oil to wipe down the areas that you suspect the ants have been going through. This will disrupt the ant’s chemical receptors and make them go in a different direction.
If you’re not comfortable with cleaning, you can also use an insecticide spray around the outside of your home. Many products contain pyrethroids, which is an effective carpenter ant killer. Follow the label instructions for proper application. It is recommended to treat the foundation, exterior door and window frames, around the lower edge of siding, rotting trees and stumps, and any areas where ants have been spotted.
Step 2 – Eliminate the Nest
If possible, locate where the carpenter ants are coming into your home. Listen for rustling sounds that may indicate a nest in the area. A nest may be located in a hollow section of a tree or in a wooden shed or deck. You can try to lure them out of the nest by placing a little bit of sweet bait, such as honeydew melons or other sugary fruits in close proximity to where you suspect the nest to be. The ants will then follow the bait back to their colony and take it there.
Insecticide dust and liquids containing pyrethroids are also very effective at treating ant nests. Boric acid is another option. The ants will carry the boric acid back to their nest, where it will kill them by penetrating into the internal body. If you’re not comfortable drilling holes into wall voids, a professional can use a foaming product called Fuse Foam to reach the hard-to-reach ants.
Step 3 – Monitor & Control
Even after the ant colonies have been destroyed, it’s a good idea to regularly inspect for carpenter ants in your home. You’ll need to remove any ants you find, and also correct the moisture problem that is allowing them to get inside your house. It’s important to remember that unless the source of moisture is corrected, the ants will just return as soon as they detect new moisture damage.
If you do have an ongoing infestation, it’s recommended that you call a professional for more extensive work such as removing interior walls and outer siding to expose the weakened wood framing and replacing them with structurally sound lumber. This process can be a major undertaking, and should only be done by a licensed contractor.