Carpenter ants are often thought of as “beneficial” insects that help break down dead trees and other wood debris in the environment. But when these insects move into the wood in and around your home, they can cause serious structural damage. Fortunately, carpenter ant pest control can be easy if you know what to look for. Watch out for piles of sawdust, small “window” holes in the wood, and rustling sounds inside walls and other hollow areas.
Unlike termites, which consume the wood they tunnel through, carpenter ants do not. Instead, they leave behind a wood shaving-like residue called pheromones. These pheromone trails lead other ants to food sources and the carpenter ants’ nest. Watch out for small pheromone trails near windows and other open foods, as these may indicate the presence of carpenter ants.
You can also check for the ants’ presence by examining the area outside your house. Look for old stumps, stacks of firewood, and other piles of wood where the ants may have set up a satellite colony. The main parent colony is typically located in the rotting wood of a tree or other large piece of wood. If the ants are using your home as a satellite colony, you can lure them back to their parent nest by placing a bait near their entry points into the house.
It’s important to find and treat the primary colony if you want to prevent carpenter ants from infesting your home. Ideally, you should do this before the ants become established.
To locate the main colony, follow the scent trail from the Carpenter Ants Removal entry points into your home to their destination. The ants usually tunnel through moist, soft wood. This means you should inspect for leaky gutters, downspouts, and other exterior problems that can cause moisture accumulation in wood. It’s also a good idea to regularly inspect your landscaping and remove old stumps, wood piles, and other debris that might attract carpenter ants.
Once you’ve identified the main colony, you can kill it with insecticide spray or dust. Use a pesticide with pyrethroids, which are the most common carpenter ant pesticides. For a quick solution, you can try tossing some powdered pesticide near the entrance to the nest, but it’s best to get a professional in there and drill 1/8-inch holes along the trail and puff boric acid into those holes.
You can prevent future infestations by regularly inspecting and sealing up any leaky areas in your home. You can also wipe down surfaces frequently with a damp cloth soaked in a combination of natural oils and water. Oils like lemon oil, tea tree oil, and citrus oil can be a deterrent to carpenter ants by masking the ants’ pheromones. Baking soda can also be used to deter ants by breaking down their exoskeletons and drying them out. You can also try using a common desiccant such as silica gel or diatomaceous earth to wipe down windowsills, baseboards, door frames, and other potential entry points.