How to Kill Carpenter Ants in Wood
Unlike termites that are known to eat wood as they destroy it, carpenter ants spit out the wood as they burrow. Carpenter ants burrow exclusively to locate a place to nest. Carpenter Ants.com explains that carpenter ants are highly active at night and have a keen knack for being able to identify damp wood. Carpenter ants are able to create their wooden colonies quickly and efficiently, which is why they can be so difficult to kill. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
-
-
1
Seek out all of the areas in your home that appear to have carpenter ant infestations. Pay particular attention to where you see the carpenter ants the most. For instance, if they are nesting in the wood beams inside the walls of your kitchen, you will probably see them climbing your cabinets, walking under the appliances and along the floor moldings.
-
2
Lay out the ant bait. Baiting works well when you are trying to kill carpenter ants that are hiding in your wood. This is especially true when you are not able to access the nests because they are within a closed wall. Most forms of carpenter ant baits have a sweet base that they are attracted to. But it is important to note that if you choose the bait method, you must get rid of any other remnants of food that may be lying around, such as crumbs in the cabinets or under the stove. The idea is to force the carpenter ants to eat the bait.
-
-
3
Treat the outside of your home after you have baited the inside. Treating the outside perimeter of your home with a spray insecticide such as deltamethrin will deter any additional ants from seeking refuge in your home while the bait is killing the ants on the inside.
-
4
Treat your entire yard with an ant insecticide. If you really want to keep carpenter ants out of your wood and off your property entirely, consider spraying other areas of your yard with the insecticide. Ants will climb trees and cross fences, so spraying these areas as well will send carpenter ants packing.
-
5
Seek professional help if you feel overwhelmed. If you feel that despite your best efforts the ant colony is not being killed off effectively, get an expert's advice. A professional exterminator may have an easier time seeking out and destroying the carpenter ants that are infesting your wood.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you have a wood-burning fire place, it is a good idea to store your wood away from your home. Choose an area of your yard where the wood will stay dry and accessible. But keep it far enough away from your house that carpenter ants won't find their way in after they are done burrowing in the logs.
Do not spray ant insecticides inside your home. Not only are they ineffective if the problem is behind your walls, the chemicals in the spray can also enter the air and make your family or your pets sick.
