Carpenter Ant Invasion

8 years ago

I have been attempting to eradicate these little buggers since July 2017. I researched on the internet about DIY approaches without any success. I used the various concoctions of Borax mixed with jelly, honey, sugar, peanut butter with no success.

I then purchased some products on line: Advance Granular Carpenter Ant Bait & Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel. The ants hit the granular bait on two different occasions and watched them taking it back inside the floor board in my kitchen where I see them come out to forage each day. But it did not apparently kill the queen as advertised, since they are back. The gel did not ever get hit; they just ignored it the various time I put it out.

I contacted a pest company and the guy sprayed suspected dead trees in the small woods behind my house, and also around the foundation. He felt there was moisture around the area where my wood deck is attached to the house and said to caulk around the edges. I did that but they still keep coming into my kitchen from the same area- floor board on the same wall that meets the outside wall where the deck meets the house.

My feeling is that there as to be a nest in the wall as the ants come from there and deposit dead ant parts(usually heads) onto my floor. I read they clean their nest out that way.

My next idea is to use Diatomaceous Earth ( food grade) and blow it into the floor board and see if that works. If this doesn't work I guess I will have to call the pest company again, but he wanted to come out monthly and spray. I have heard that spraying won't work unless it kills the Queen, and read this could disrupt the nest and the Queen could move it. I am wondering if dusting with the DE would do the same thing.

If anyone has any tips or advice I would be extremely grateful.

Thank you,

Mike

Featured Answer

kimmq

8 years ago

Leaks in the roofing, leaks in the siding, leaks in the protection from the elements, and leaks in the plumbing inside the house.

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Comments (9)

kimmq
8 years ago
The carpenter ants are there because there is wet wood. Solve the problem about the wet wood and they will stop visiting. In addition wet wood is not good for your house since it can cause serious problems, especially if that wood is structural.

Putting poisons out to "get rid" of those ants is not a very good solution to the real problem.
Michael Beery
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Dully noted. I have a wood deck that may be the issue. Thinking of tearing it down and putting a slab. Not sure how to find our where wet wood in my house could be. Is there a way to do that? I also have a small wooded area behind my home with some dead trees and some stumps. I read the worker ants can forage up to 100 yards looking for food, water etc. So that also could be an issue. Any other ideas let me know. Thank you!
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Michael Beery
Original Author
8 years ago
I checked the plumbing months ago and no leaks. The roof leaked 5 years ago but was fixed. The siding looks sound but who knows. I caulked all the places where pipes go into the house. Will keep looking I guess. T hanks again.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
8 years ago
July, you found the wrong pest management company. Call around and get a properly trained professional to take care of the problem.
Michael Beery thanked rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
Jean
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Where do you live? If in the northwest, you have very picky carpenter ants. They won't take the usual ant baits, whether commercial or home-made.

Other sources of moisture include shrubs/plants against the siding, likewise lumber or firewood against the house. Still another is leafy debris, trash, or organic mulch within 8 inches of the siding, or touching it.
Michael Beery thanked Jean
Michael Beery
Original Author
8 years ago
I live in NE Indiana. I tore out the mulch beds years ago and just have landscape stone. I do have a couple of bushes touching the house though. I think these NE Ind carpenter ants are very picky too. Thanks!
sdmg1
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Borax is usually a good way to stop an ant invasion but there’s other alternatives.

This site has ideas on getting rid of ants in the garden. Best Ways to Get Rid of Ants in Your Garden

It mentions Diatomaceous Earth and has a tutorial on how to implement it. The problem with Diatomaceous Earth is that it kills an ant from the outside rather than acting as a poison when ingested. So it forms a good barrier. Here is the explanation: Natural Ant Killer, Diatomaceous Earth for Ants

Other ways are baking soda ant traps, natural spray and other alternatives. If you implement an ant trap correctly it can be as effective as a Terro ant trap. Try to make the borax or even a baking soda ant trap to make sure that it kills the nest and then form a barrier with Diatomaceous Earth.
kimmq
8 years ago
Doing things in an attempt to kill the symptom of the problem, here Carpenter Ants, without fixing the problem that attracted them will not be a long term cure or eve a short term cure.

Find out why the ants are attracted to the area and fix that and they will leave.