How to Kill Carpenter Ants in a Colony

Carpenter ants can be either black or red. Thousands of varieties are in existence. Some varieties, such as the Florida carpenter ants, bite and cause pain and itching. All varieties are attracted to and eat sugary foods. They set up their homes in wet and decayed woods. They will also eat the wood, causing damage to trees and your home. You can use an exterminator to get rid of the ants, or you can try home remedies.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Sugar
• Boric acid powder
• Metal lid
• Cotton ball
• Corn syrup or apple jelly
• Peanut butter
• Squeeze bottle
• Confectioner's sugar
• Baking soda
• Salt shaker

Instructions

Basic Bait

1. Add three cups of tap water to a medium sauce pan, and bring it to a boil.

2. Add a cup of sugar and four tsps. boric acid powder.

3. Stir until the sugar and boric acid have completely dissolved.

4. Remove and clean the metal lid from a glass food jar. Turn the lid upside down.

5. Dip a cotton ball into the sugar mixture, and place it on the inside of the metal lid.

6. Place the metal lid where you are seeing ants the most.

7. Replace the soaked cotton ball as needed.

8. Ensure the lid is out of reach of all children and pets.

Peanut Butter Bait

1. Add 1.5 cups corn syrup or apple jelly to a small bowl.

2. Mix in two tbsps. of boric acid powder.

3. Add two tbsps. of peanut butter and stir thoroughly.

4. Place your peanut butter mixture in a squeeze bottle.

5. Place squirts of the peanut butter mixture in carpenter ant trouble spots but out of reach of pets and children.

Baking Soda

1. Mix equal parts of confectioner's sugar and baking soda.

2. Place the mixture in an empty salt shaker.

3. Sprinkle a thin layer of the baking soda mixture around an area of high traffic for the carpenter ants.

Tips & Warnings

• Any of these methods will kill not only kill the ant that comes into contact with them but those in the colony it meets as well. The ant will get the ingredients on its body and take them to the colony where it will spread the toxins.

• The baking soda mixture uses the two ingredients to attract and kill the ants. The ants will be attracted by the sweetness of the sugar and choose to eat it. The baking soda will cause gas that their systems cannot release, killing the ants.

References

• Home Remedies for Carpenter Ants