Carpenter Ant Control
Carpenter
ants are large (10 mm or more) black or brown ants often found in wooded
areas. However, they are known to enter homes also, especially in the
spring. These ants are most often seen one at a time, and they are by
far the largest ants seen on the property. In the spring, you may find
large numbers of flying ants. These are the reproductive members of the
colony. They indicate the presence of a mature colony nearby, and this
is cause for concern. This colony must be found and destroyed
immediately because carpenter ants are capable of doing severe
structural damage if left untreated. The good news is that can do
your own carpenter ant control at a fraction of the cost of
professional treatment to take care of this dangerous and costly
pest!
Carpenter Ant Control
- Trim all trees and bushes so no branches touch or come close to
any part of the house. This is helpful to distance their habitat
from your home.
- Correct any moisture problem such as leaking roofs, chimneys or
plumbing. Clean out your gutters. Make certain there is good
ventilation in the attic and crawl space areas. Like all insects,
carpenter ants thrive on moisture.
- Replace or repair all water damaged wood and eliminate all wood to
earth contact.
To find the carpenter ant colony look for the following signs:
- Sawdust - Wood shavings, dead ants and old ant cocoons are
often piled up outside of the nest.
- Windows - Small slit-like openings that carpenter ants cut
into damaged wood.
- Swarmers - The winged reproductive that usually but not always swarm in the spring. Look for them trapped in spider webs, on window ledges, or in light fixtures. They are good clues to nest location.
- Workers - Solitary ants wandering aimlessly, most active at night. You may not see any activity during normal working hours. If you do it does not mean the nest is nearby. Worker ants can travel the length of a football field looking for food.
- Clicking - Rustling or clicking sounds can sometimes be heard coming from carpenter ant nests. If you identify potential nest site, try tapping against it with your hand or a tool. You may get a response, clicking of alarmed ants. Get close enough and you can actually hear the colony chewing through wood inside your walls.
- Water Damage - When you find the leak, the carpenter ants are usually there. Carpenter ant damaged wood contains galleries that feel sandpapered very smooth and clean.
For immediate destruction of the Carpenter Ant colony, find and treat
directly inside the carpenter ant nest. A good dust such as Drione
works better than a liquid spray. A bellows duster such as the Crusader
Duster is a valuable dust application tool. For small areas, a
good aerosol such as the Termite
@ Carpenter Ant Aerosol, used with the crack and crevice
tip, will work also.
If you cannot find the nest, then use Advance
Carpenter Ant Bait. This is an effective granular bait
especially formulated for carpenter ant control. It is both safe and
easy to use. One pound is rated to cover one acre, and it can be used
inside and outside the home. For faster control consider using Maxforce
Carpenter Ant gel bait. This has a natural "honeydew
attractant" that Carpenter Ants find irresistible. Using either one
or both baits may not destroy the colony completely, but simply cripple
it. For complete and immediate death of the entire carpenter ant colony,
repair the water leak and treat the Carpenter Ant gallery with Drione
dust.
Another product that can be used if you can not find the nest is Termidor SC. Termidor SC has been thoroughly tested and is one of the best products on the market for termite and carpenter ant control. Apply Termidor SC to the home exterior as a low pressure coarse spray around entry points or where they are crawling. Spray Termidor SC around doors, windows, vents, pipes or any other exterior openings (including foundation cracks and holes) where ants can enter the home.
Once activity has ceased spray the entry points outside of your home
with a good residual insecticide such as Cypermethrin.
Advance Carpenter Ant Bait is $80.00 for 2 lbs.
Maxforce Carpenter Ant gel bait is $34 for 27 grams Drione is $32.00 for one lb.
Crusader Duster is $15.00
Termite and Carpenter Ant aerosol (15 ounce) is $9.95
Viper (cypermethrin) is $26.16 for 4 ounces, makes 4 gallons
BEST BUY >>>>
We now offer a Carpenter Ant
Control Kit containing:
One pound of Drione Dust, one Crusader Duster, and 2
Termite and Carpenter Ant aerosols.
The Carpenter Ant Control Kit price is $56.90.
BEST BUY>>>>Carpenter
Ant Bait Kit, containing:
One 2 pound container of Advance Granular
Carpenter Ant bait and one 27 gram syringe of Maxforce Carpenter Ant gel
bait.
This kit is just $99,
a savings of $15!!!
Follow
this link to view the kits and more information on these products.
1-800-226-8370
e-Bug Products - Do It Yourself Pest Control
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