To get rid of carpenter ants effectively, follow these key steps:
Identification and Inspection
- Locate the carpenter ant nests by looking for signs such as hollow-sounding wood, sawdust piles, winged ants, and visible ant trails
- Inspect your home thoroughly, including the interior, exterior, crawl spaces, and attic for damage and ant activity
Treatment Methods
1. Use Toxic Baits
- Apply slow-acting poisonous gel bait mixed with sugar and milk to attract ants. They carry the bait back to the nest, killing the colony in about three days
- Boric acid mixed with powdered sugar (about 2/3 boric acid to 1/3 sugar) can be placed in bottle caps near ant trails. Ants ingest it and bring it back to the nest, eliminating the colony
2. Direct Nest Treatment
- If nests are accessible, treat them with carpenter ant dust insecticides or liquid residual insecticides. Dusts should be applied carefully into voids where ants nest or forage
- Pouring boiling water directly into outdoor nests can kill ants, but caution is needed. Adding natural insecticides or soap to the water increases effectiveness
3. Disrupt Ant Trails
- Clean surfaces where ants travel with a mixture of dish soap and water or white vinegar to remove pheromone trails, preventing ants from finding food sources
Prevention to Avoid Reinfestation
- Remove clutter and debris that can serve as nesting sites
- Fix leaks and moisture problems to prevent wood rot, which attracts carpenter ants
- Seal cracks and entry points around your home with caulk and install screens on doors and windows
- Keep food sealed and clean up crumbs and spills promptly
- Trim tree limbs away from your home and remove wood piles or natural debris near the foundation
When to Seek Professional Help
- If the infestation is severe or nests are difficult to reach, professional pest control services can provide targeted and effective treatment
By combining these inspection, treatment, and prevention strategies, you can successfully eliminate carpenter ants and protect your home from future infestations
