Practice natural carpenter ant control for a SAFE, chemical free home.
Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp.) cause damage by tunneling and nesting inside wood structures. However, unlike termites, they do not feed on wood, but burrow into it to build their nests. They usually prefer damp, decaying lumbar that is easy to excavate and rarely cause harm to sound structures.
Note: Few pests cause more panic among homeowners than those involving wood-destroying insects.
Carpenter ants are large (3/8 – 3/4 inch long) when compared to most ants and black, reddish brown or yellowish in color, depending on the species. They are often found inside during spring. However, their presence is not sufficient enough evidence to conclude that there is a nest inside your home. Concerned homeowners should try to determine whether the ants are coming from an outdoor or an indoor nest, although this can be difficult. To do so, you may be able to make a more accurate determination based on when you first see the ants.
Tip: According to the University of Minnesota Extension Service, if you find carpenter ants in your home during late winter or early spring, that suggests the ants are coming from a nest inside your house. However, if you see activity later in the year, it is less clear if the nest is inside. In almost all cases, ants seen indoors during winter are an indication that there is an inside nest. One exception is when ants are brought indoors in firewood.
Ant colonies are founded by a single fertilized queen which lays approximately 15-20 eggs after establishing a nesting site in a cavity in wood. She feeds the developing young with salivary secretions and does not eat or leave the nest during this time. The queen has few duties except to lay eggs. The workers which are reared first assume the task of gathering food with which to feed the younger larvae. They are also responsible for excavating galleries to enlarge the nest and tending the eggs, larvae and pupae of the next generation. Colonies grow very rapidly and reach a peak population (approximately 3,000 workers) within 3-6 years. At this time, winged reproductive females are produced and fly off to establish new colonies.
Carpenter Ant Control
- Prevent excess moisture accumulation in wood through good maintenance of the house structure and surroundings.
- Repair existing damage, then cut off ant access routes.
- Eliminate potential nesting areas by repairing injured trees and removing stumps and wood debris.
- Prune branches that touch the house and eliminate wood/earth contact with structures.
- Apply Bora-Care to all exposed wood faces.
- Locate nests by trailing workers and searching for frass piles (insect feces) and saw-dust like wood shavings. If nests are found, apply diatomaceous earth and boric acid to eliminate colonies.
- Use botanical pesticides as a last resort.
- Check firewood carefully for insects prior to bringing inside and monitor closely once the wood warms.
Tip: Store firewood off the ground and as far from the house as practical.
Photo Credit: Michigan State University