What Kills Carpenter Ants in the House?

Carpenter ants are often black or black and red.

Carpenter ants are found throughout the United States. Normally, ants build their nests outdoors in dead, hollow logs or rotting stumps. Although carpenter ants do not eat wood, they can be detrimental to wooden structures within the home. The ants build their nests by burrowing through wood, much like a termite. Carpenter ants found in the home must be destroyed to prevent damage to wood structures. Once destroyed, preventive measures to inhibit re-infestation of the colony is critical.

Detection

Typical carpenter ant nest located in decaying stump

The first step in destroying carpenter ant infestation is locating the actual nest. The ants travel to and from their nest by a scent trail. Carpenter ants are attracted to sweets and protein. Placing sugar or honey and pieces of tuna, packed in water, along an ant trail can aid in locating the nest. The ants will carry the tuna back to their colony, leading you to the nest. Tapping along baseboards or walls with a hard object and listening for a hollowed-out sound can also help detect a nest. Often times the ants will respond to tapping by making a crinkly, crunching sound.

Destroy

There are several ways to kill carpenter ants in the home, depending on the location and accessibility of the nest. If the nest is exposed, insecticides available to the public can be effective in killing the ants. Douse the exposed nest thoroughly with an insecticide containing deltamethrin, permethrin, bifenthrin or cyfluthrin. If the nest is not exposed, it may be necessary to drill small holes, approximately 1/8 inch in diameter and several feet on either side of entry points, into the area occupied by the ants. Fill the holes with boric acid by "puffing" the powder using a syringe. An ear syringe or hair tint bottle makes an excellent puffer. Boric acid is widely available in drugstores and is effective in killing carpenter ants.

Bait

Baiting can be an effective means of killing carpenter ants if used consistently. A solution of 1 percent boric acid in a 10 percent solution of sugar water is an inexpensive home remedy. The solution is slow-acting and will need to be frequently replenished. The ants will carry the solution back to their nest and feed the toxin to other ants. This method may take several weeks or months to be effective. Do not use insecticides in the same area as the bait. The insecticides will discourage the ants from feeding and render the bait useless. Baiting is effective only if the treated bait is carried back to the nest.

Professional Exterminator

If you have unsuccessfully tried to exterminate a carpenter ant infestation, it may be time to call the professionals. Many of the more effective insecticides are not available to the general public. The cost of a licensed exterminator may well be worth preventing the devastation to home structures causes by carpenter ant infestations.

Prevention

Prevention is the often the best approach to managing carpenter ants. Carpenter ants like to build their nests in rotting, moist wood. Replacing damp, rotting wood and fixing water leaks that cause rot will help prevent infestation by making your home less attractive as a potential nest. Clear the exterior around your home of brush and tree limbs, damp vegetation and decaying debris. Removing food sources such as sugar, candy and meat proteins should also be effective.

Caution

Ants often travel along wiring and pipes. Use caution when drilling to prevent accidentally hitting wiring or pipes. Do not apply liquid or spray insecticides directly into electrical outlets to avoid accidental electrocution.

References

• The University of Kentucky:College of Agriculture -- Carpenter Ants:
• University of Minnesota:Carpenter Ants:
• CarptenterAnts.Com:Carpenter Ant Control and Treatments: