Carpenter Ant Control

There is no one single "best" treatment for carpenter ants, but the first step in long-term carpenter ant control always is to eliminate favorable conditions. In the great majority of cases this means correcting moisture conditions, and perhaps replacing damaged wood. It may also mean removing old, infested stumps from the backyard or rotting wood from structural crawl spaces. Simple steps like these will help minimize the need for future chemical treatments.

 

Eliminating Existing Carpenter Ant Problems

Until a few years ago, the standard treatment for carpenter ants in a tree or other outdoor nest was to spray or dust the tree and put a perimeter spray or granular insecticide around the house to prevent ants and other insects from getting in. In some cases, this is still the best course of action.

Likewise, until a few years ago, carpenter ant nests inside buildings were usually treated by applying a dust or a liquid insecticide directly into or into the infested void or timber, often through holes drilled into the infested area. Once again, in some cases, this is still the best way to treat a carpenter ant infestation inside a building -- especially if you know where the nest is.

But nowadays, there are other options, as well. There are several good baits on the market that can be applied in or around the infested areas, or even just sprinkled around the perimeter of a house. The ants will find the bait, pick it up, and carry it back to the colony. Sometimes this is all that is needed to wipe out a carpenter ant problem.

Another relatively new option is the use of non-repellant residual insecticides. Unlike older products, many of the newer residual insecticides are not repellant to insects. When applied in or around a infested area, insects walking on the treated areas will pick up and transport the insecticide to their nests, often resulting in complete control of the infestation.

But make no mistake about it: Carpenter ants are difficult to control. They are hardy insects who tend to make their nests in well-hidden, hard-to-reach areas. They also favor conditions that often require the correction of structural problems on the property to be treated. It takes a professional exterminator to locate their nests, precisely apply products to eliminate the current infestation, and provide sound advice about repairs and modifications you can make to obtain the best-possible long-term results.

 

Choosing the Right Exterminator

The selection of the right approach to solving a particular carpenter ant problem requires a thorough knowledge of their biology and behavior; and the application of the treatment selected often requires specialized products and tools. Treating for carpenter ants is not a do-it-yourself job. Get it done right the first time. In the Greater Boston area, call the experts at Economy Pest Control.