Don’t let wood-excavating pests make a mess of your home.
Try these tips to eliminate carpenter ants quickly.
Klaus Nicodem / Getty Images
Liketermites, carpenter ants can wreak havoc on your home.
Credit:Klaus Nicodem / Getty Images
However, they dont actually eat wood; rather, they excavate wood to build their nests.
In nature, they are invaluable, as they help break down dead trees and fallen logs.
This damage is costly to repair and can lead to significant safety hazards.
Early detection is key.
Here is how to get rid of carpenter ants as quickly as possible.
This damage erodes the woods ability to support the weight of everything resting on top of it.
They rarely tunnel into dry, sound wood.
Instead, they are drawn to moist wood thats already prone to rot.
Carpenter ants can also excavate insulation.
Adult males and females both develop wings during the breeding season.
Dilute boric acid with water to make a homemade solution.
Regularly spray the solution in multiple locations for the best results.
Reduce Moisture Levels
Carpenter ants are attracted to moist environments because they prefer nesting in damp or decaying wood.
If you already have an infestation, you must reduce moisture and exterminate the existing bugs.
Destroy Scent Trails
Carpenter ants rely on scent (pheromone) trails to find food sources.
Destroy the attraction to your home by thoroughly cleaning surfaces where ants have traveled.
Use ammonia-based products,vinegar, or essential oils such as tea tree, peppermint, or citrus.
Mix the repellants with water and spray them directly onto ants or around nests.
Apply Insecticides
For severe infestations, insecticides formulated specifically for carpenter ants can effectively eliminate them.
These products may contain bifenthrin, deltamethrin, or permethrin.
Microbial insecticides containing Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae fungi are environmentally friendly options that are rarely harmful to humans.
Nevertheless, always follow manufacturer instructions carefully for the safe use and app of pesticides.
Bait and Trap
There are two types of baits: protein- and sugar-based baits.
A simple trap consists of equal parts sugar andbaking sodain a bowl.
Sugar attracts the ants, and baking soda kills them.
With carpenter ants, time is of the essence.
Waiting too long can jeopardize your safety.
Call pest control experts to ensure the job is done well before carpenter ants cause irreparable damage.
Try a multifaceted approach.
Regularlawn careand tree maintenance can help.
Routinelytrim back bushes and branches.
Inspect the area around your home and yard for decaying wood.
If you spot any, remove or treat wet or rotting wood immediately.
Clear wood piles and stack firewood far away from your house.
Inside your home, make the space inhospitable for carpenter ants to survive.
Repair any plumbing orroof leaks.
Replace damaged wood throughout your homeseal cracks around windows, doors, and any openings to the house.
Ensure attics and basements are well-ventilated to avoid moisture build-up.
