Is it possible to get rid of carpenter ants

Ants would, in most cases, prefer the areas under and around kitchen and bathroom tiles, showers, dishwashers, sinks, and tubs. Parent colonies need to find a moist area in order to thrive. However, satellite colonies can be found in drier places hollow doors, wall voids, insulation, etc.

Carpenter ant nests might be challenging to find. Listen for a hollow sound — that can be an indication of damaged wood. Moreover, tapping can stress the ants out and they will end up leaving their nest. In such a case, you would certainly see the carpenter ants running around which means that the nest is somewhere in this area. Last but not least, you can follow the ant trail.

Find the insects that are already carrying food as they are returning to their home. Of course, you might need to spend some time, if you decide to choose this method, but you will certainly end up finding the nest.

Getting rid of carpenter ants is just half of the job. You also want to make sure that these annoying insects do not come back, right? Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do about that bear in mind that this will take quite some time and effort.

Unfortunately, carpenter ants can bite humans. And the worst part is that these bites can be pretty painful. These ants are relatively big and have strong wood-cutting mandibles. So, their bite can potentially break the skin. However, carpenter ants do not just bite for the sake of it. So, what can make a carpenter ant bite you? Basically, these ants bite for their defense. If a carpenter ant feels that you are a threat or that you are disturbing or trying to destroy its nest, the chances are high that the creature will bite you.

If you get bitten by a carpenter ant, you will certainly feel it. There will be a severe pinching and burning sensation. The size of the bite mark is equal to the size of a pea. The skin will look raised and there might be a blemish. Thankfully, the bite is not venomous. If the human feels prolonged pain or develops an allergic reaction, he or she should certainly take a trip to the doctor.

If a carpenter ant has bitten you, make sure to wash the bite with soap and water. Apply a cold compress for around minutes. If you have not gotten any relief, then try applying a special cream for bites. Once the wound is clean, make sure to bandage it to avoid any irritation. In case you know exactly what carpenter ants prefer to eat, you will be able to choose the right bait and then use it to track the ants to their nest, for example.

Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood. These insects prefer their diet to include sources of sugar and protein. If the carpenter ants live outdoors, they would be more than happy to eat other insects or honeydew secretions. Inside, these creatures are ready to eat any sweet foods jelly, honey, syrup, sugar… , meats, and even pet food click here to find out how to get rid of the ants in the pet food.

During spring and summer, carpenter ants prefer to go out foraging for food between sunset and midnight. The chances are high that all the other carpenter ants are waiting for night to fall to leave their nest. Now you know that it is possible to get rid of the carpenter ants without the help of an exterminator.

Of course, the whole process would require a lot of your time and effort, but the results are certainly worth it. Best of luck!

Lewis D. Pellitteri P. You must be logged in to post a comment. Table of Contents. Highly attractive formula promotes ready transfer of the active Powerful, active ingredient knocks out workers, brood and queens Approved for use indoors and outdoors, applied in cracks and How does Optigard Ant Bait Gel work?

Ants that feed on the gel Leave a Comment Cancel reply You must be logged in to post a comment. Carpenter ants are often black, but some types have a reddish or yellowish shades to them. Worker carpenter ants also have large mandibles, or mouth parts. But they do damage wood by excavating and creating galleries and tunnels for their nest, according to Desiree Straubinger, a board certified entomologist and market Technical director for Ehrlich Pest Control. Carpenter ants typically eat insects, meats, pet food, syrup, honey, sugar, jelly, and other things that are sweet, Russell says.

It depends. When carpenter ants build nests, they created tunnels in wood, and that can weaken the material, Straubinger says. The more ants you have, the more damage they can do. Where you live matters, too, says entomologist Roberto M. Pereira, Ph. Often, the woods is wet, moldy, or rotting in some capacity, Russell says.

If you're freaked out, "It is fairly uncommon to have carpenter ants infesting your home, but it is highly likely that you have carpenter ants in your yard if you have large older trees present," says Hottel. If the ants are just foraging in your home and their nest is outside, you will often find colonies in tree stumps, dead or dying trees, and other wood with a lot of moisture damage.

For nests indoors, carefully drill one-eighth of an inch wide holes in the wall, every 6 inches or so. Do this 3 to 6 feet on either side of the suspected nest location. Carpenter ants love to travel on pipes and wires. As such, their nests are often located near wiring and piping, so be careful when drilling. When the holes are drilled, puff boric acid powder into them.

The powder will disperse inside the wall voids and kill the ants right in their nest. If the nest is outdoors, it can be drenched in an insecticide such as carbaryl, diazinon or chlorpyrifos these may not be legal in every state, so be sure to check first. Fix all leaks, including plumbing, roofs and drainage systems.

Areas with high moisture levels should be evaluated and corrected to reduce moisture. If possible, eliminate any places where wood meets the soil outdoors.