6 ways to remove carpenter ants from your home to prevent damage

Carpenter ants have the same destructive power over your home as termites. They literally dig through the wood to build their nests; They don’t actually eat wood. They are very useful in nature, helping to cut down fallen logs and dead trees. However, their nesting efforts can damage and threaten the structural integrity of the home when they burrow through the woodwork of the structure. The cost to repair these damages is high and can pose serious safety risks. The key is early detection. This is the fastest way to get rid of carpenter ants.

Damage Caused by Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants leave smooth, clean lines in the wood of door casings, windows, joists, wall studs, porch pillars, crawlspaces, around sinks or tubs, foundations and support beams as they burrow into wooden buildings to obtain material for their nests. This damage compromises the wood’s ability to support the weight of any object placed on it.

Rarely do they sink into still, dry wood. Instead, they are drawn to moist wood that is already prone to rotting. Insulation can also be dug up by carpenter ants.

How to Identify a Carpenter Ant

There are many types of wood-mining carpenter ants, but the black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is the most common home invader. Their size, which is 3/8 to 3/4 inch, and their red or black coloration clearly distinguish them from other ants. During the mating season, feathers develop on both adult males and females.

How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Try these ways to eliminate carpenter ants, including natural DIY methods, store-bought products, and chemical-based insecticides.

1. Eliminate the Nests

Because they often build multiple satellite nests indoors, and outdoors—in old tree stump or wood piles—carpenter ants are difficult to get rid of. If you find a nest in your home, you can destroy it by drilling holes in it and using boric acid to destroy its webs. Boric acid can be diluted with water to make a DIY solution. For optimal effects, spray the liquid in several areas. As an alternative, you can place insecticidal dust or diatomaceous earth near the entrance to the nest or where the ants are active.

2. Reduce Moisture Levels

Because they like to build their nests in damp or rotting wood, carpenter ants are drawn to moist areas. Pay attention to it to eliminate leakage and moisture problems inside and outside your home. Repair any leaking pipes, increase air flow and get rid of any standing water. If there is already an infestation, you need to remove the bugs and reduce the humidity.

3. Destroy Scent Trails

To find a food source, carpenter ants follow scent marks or pheromone trails. De-clutter your home by carefully cleaning areas where ants have been found. Use vinegar, ammonia-based solutions, or essential oils like citrus, peppermint, or tea tree. Repellents should be mixed with water and sprayed directly on the area around ants or nests.

4. Apply Insecticides

Insecticides designed specifically for carpenter ants are an effective way to get rid of serious infestations. These items may include permethrin, deltamethrin, or bifenthrin. Beauveria bassiana or Metarhizium anisopliae fungi are used in microbial pesticides, which are safe for the environment and rarely toxic to humans. However, for safe use and application of pesticides, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations carefully.

5. Bait and Trap

Baits come in two types: protein baits and sugar baits. Carpenter ants, singly or in groups, can stop in their tracks by placing baits along the route between their habitat and the parent colony. Equal parts sugar and baking soda in a basin make a basic trap. Ants are attracted to sugar and are killed by baking soda.

6. Call the Pros

Do-it-yourself techniques can work well for small carpenter ant infestations, but more serious situations may require professional help. When dealing with carpenter ants, time is of the essence. If you wait too long, your safety may be at risk. To ensure the job is done well before carpenter ants cause irreversible damage, contact a pest control specialist.

The Best Way to Prevent Carpenter Ants

Treating an infestation of carpenter ants is more difficult than preventing them. Try using a variety of strategies. Frequent tree and grass care can be beneficial. Regularly prune back branches and shrubs. Keep an eye out for rotting timber in the vicinity of your house and yard. Remove or cure any damp or decaying wood right away if you find any. Dismantle wood stacks and store firewood at a distance from your residence.

Make the interior of your house uninhabitable for carpenter ants. Fix any leaks in the roof or plumbing. Replace any deteriorated wood in your house, and seal any gaps around doors, windows, and other openings. To prevent moisture buildup, make sure basements and attics have enough ventilation. As soon as you hear or see what seems to be sawdust or wood chewing, take action to eliminate any unwanted pests making themselves too comfortable in your house.

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