How to Eliminate Carpenter Ant Infestations

Carpenter ants create nests in wood structures.

Carpenter ants chew into wood surfaces to make nests for the colony. While the pesky critters are not actually eating the wood, they can cause structural damage when left to bore into the surface. Killing ants on sight only gets rid of ants that are working outside the nest. To successfully eliminate an entire carpenter ant infestation, you also must exterminate the ants in the colony. You can get rid of ants on your own using proper supplies and ant removal methods.

Things You'll Need

• Bowl
• 1 cup jelly
• 1 tsp. boric acid
• Spoon
• Masking tape
• 1/8 in. drill bit
• Drill
• Caulk gun
• Borax powder

Instructions

1. 

   The sweet taste of jelly attracts carpenter ants.

   Place 1 cup jelly and 1 tsp. boric acid in a bowl. Stir the two ingredients together to create a deadly ant bait.

2. Tear off pieces of masking tape 2 inches to 3 inches long and stick them to the floor or other horizontal surfaces where carpenter ants have been seen. Spoon some of the jelly ant bait onto the masking tape to attract ants.

3. Watch to see where ants come from and return to after eating the bait. This will help you determine where the ants have built their nest.

4. 

   Holes must be drilled in the wall to effectively kill ants in the nest.

   Bore four to six small holes into the wall where the ant nest is located. Use a 1/8 in. drill bit to create the holes.

5. Pour borax powder into a caulk gun until the gun is two-thirds full. Stick the tip of the caulk gun into the holes, one at a time. Pump the borax powder into the wall through the holes to kill the ants in the nest.

Tips & Warnings

• Replenish ant bait every few days until you're certain the carpenter ant population has been eliminated. Ants will eat the bait and bring some back to share with the rest of the colony.

• Wash surfaces with an equal mixture of white vinegar and water to repel ants from coming into or setting up residence in the home.

• If ants still exist after treating the infestation for four to six weeks, consult with a professional exterminator.

References

• University of Kentucky; Carpenter Ants; Mike Potter; February 1993
• National Park Service; Integrated Pest Management Manual; December 2003
• Apartment Therapy; Household Pest Control: 5 Natural Bug Repellants; Marcia Prentice; May 2010
• Texas A&M University; Making Baits at Home to Control Pesky Indoor Ants; October 2009