Author Topic: Carpenter ants - any advice?  (Read 5020 times)

PtboEliz

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Carpenter ants - any advice?
« on: June 01, 2016, 11:20:42 AM »
Hi everyone,

I've been working on my new house replacing some old wood siding with a contractor. Long story short, there are (and have been for some years according to the basement tenant) carpenter ants crawling up a corner to the second floor siding, but they're apparently not nesting under the old wood siding but somewhere under another wall of good vinyl siding (or possibly going in behind the brick that goes half way up the house).

We worked yesterday to try to find their hang-out to no avail. I'm going to do some research and call in a pest pro before any more demo but I was wondering if anyone had any experience/advice dealing with CAs?? Any info would be appreciated.. Many thanks :)

NoStacheOhio

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2016, 05:50:59 AM »
Check the vegetation around your house, make sure nothing is touching. We had a ton of them when we first moved in, and between hiring a good, inexpensive exterminator and removing a tree that was touching the roof, we've been in pretty good shape.

Syonyk

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2016, 05:57:37 PM »
Amdro seems pretty good at dealing with ants.  I've not used it on carpenter ants, but I've used it on some variety of biting red ant ("Pissants" seems to be the local term for them) and it kills the nest in a few days.  Try spreading it around and see if it gets back to the nest and takes care of it.

I don't mind ants if they're off in the distance, but I'd rather them not be swarming my driveway when my daughter goes through there regularly.

BudgetSlasher

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2016, 08:14:05 PM »
When we moved in there were a few carpenter ants to be seen in the basement.

I did a few things

1) A general coat of a spray (in my case Ortho Home Defense Max) around the house exterior, all interior baseboards, and all exterior doors/windows/outlets/lights.

2) A protein based ant bait in the high traffic areas

3) A sugar based ant bait in the high traffic areas

4) address any plants touching the house.

and I haven't seen any for a few years now.

PtboEliz

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2016, 09:48:07 PM »
Thank you very much for the suggestions. We're taking down a lot of siding this week so we'll see whether we stumble into a nest. I'm definitely going to check for vegetation highways, thanks particularly for that info. I've read and been told by a pest guy that baiting doesn't work that great with carpenter ants but my approach may be to go for multiple partial solutions!

FarmerPete

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #5 on: June 08, 2016, 02:06:39 PM »
I've had zero luck with any baiting with carpenter ants.  I've tried every option from HD/Lowes/Menards and even some online options.  They don't want any of it.

Frugal D

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #6 on: June 08, 2016, 02:40:03 PM »
Don't use bait traps from home improvement stores. Ants who are poisoned are not allowed back into the colony to kill the queen -- which defeats the whole purpose. 

I found a really great exterminator who uses his own organic odorless solution that the ants can't detect. We probably had above average results, but the ants were gone the day after he sprayed and have not been back. Not a single one!


PtboEliz

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #7 on: June 08, 2016, 04:23:56 PM »
Frugal D - would your pest guy ever reveal his secret recipe?? :)

Goldielocks

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #8 on: June 08, 2016, 04:31:05 PM »
We hired an exterminator.  Nice thing about Carpenter Ants,  it is a "once and done" effort.   I remember being able to hear them chewing in the wall of the family room.

The primary nest is likely located outside, near a wood pile or in the ground.   They travel far for their supply, and may have a secondary next near / in your wall, but the primary one is important to get rid of too.  That is one reason the home improvement kits don't work that well.


Frugal D

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #9 on: June 08, 2016, 04:34:18 PM »
Frugal D - would your pest guy ever reveal his secret recipe?? :)

Haha - I'm not sure about that. If you're in the Seattle area I'd be happy to send you his contact information.

PtboEliz

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2016, 05:33:48 PM »
Thanks, Goldie. I've had a stethoscope in my bathroom to see if I can hear them at night through the walls - no luck yet. And I've had my eyes out for the primary nest, though should take a dedicated walk around.

Near Toronto, FD. If I have horrible luck with the problem I might fly your guy in hoping his potion will make it through customs :)

Goldielocks

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2016, 05:59:22 PM »
Thanks, Goldie. I've had a stethoscope in my bathroom to see if I can hear them at night through the walls - no luck yet. And I've had my eyes out for the primary nest, though should take a dedicated walk around.

Near Toronto, FD. If I have horrible luck with the problem I might fly your guy in hoping his potion will make it through customs :)
Lucky,  I could hear them while reading on the sofa 8 ft away.   tick tick tick.

Exflyboy

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2016, 01:52:44 PM »
Iused the double bait method from Amazon.. for some reason you need both baits.. it seemed to work.. Ants are gone anyway.

PtboEliz

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2016, 11:22:26 AM »
Exfly - can you post a link to which Amazon product you mean? I'm seeing a few of them.. thank you :)

Exflyboy

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2016, 11:40:50 AM »
Exfly - can you post a link to which Amazon product you mean? I'm seeing a few of them.. thank you :)

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/maxforce-carpenter-ant-bait-gel-p-112.html

http://www.domyownpestcontrol.com/advance-carpenter-ant-bait-p-173.html

I used both of these at the same time... They recommend you do that... I used this in my rental trailer and my renters conveniently collected the unused stuff and took it with them when they left.

The ants were there in fairly large numbers.. they have not been back since.

I hope that is due to the baits but I wasn't there so I didn't see them eating it so can't be 100% positive.. But like I said they are not there now.

Bitey_Barkface

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2016, 12:15:44 PM »
Try cotton-balls soaked in a 50/50 solution of boric acid and sugar, leave in high traffic areas. Super cheap and effective, ust keep out of reach of kids/pets.

I used it on pharaoh ants and after about 2 weeks they never showed up again, and we had so many they were crawling on the ceilings and having a counter-top parade day and night. I've heard it can work on carpenter ants too.

PtboEliz

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Re: Carpenter ants - any advice?
« Reply #16 on: June 17, 2016, 10:10:53 AM »
Many thanks for the suggestions - very helpful and appreciated!