Carpenter Ants, also called Pennsylvania or Black Carpenter ants have moderately sized colonies with more than 3,000 workers and only one queen. Inside, nests usually start in moist, decayed wood and voids. Look for coarse sawdust piles that contain insect body parts. Listen for the sounds of workers chewing wood. Outside, nests are commonly found in dead or damaged trees, rotting logs, and stumps.

Carpenter ants enter buildings around door and window frames, through eaves, along plumbing and utility lines and where branches touch a structure.

Carpenter ants feed primarily on insects honeydew, plant and fruit juices and insects. Indoors they feed on food crumbs, meat, pest food, and grease.

To control carpenter ants, the nest has to be treated directly. successful control depends on eliminating the parent colony which is usually located outside. Besides eliminating the colony, voids must be dusted, the perimeter sprayed, vegetation cur back, and granular insect bait applied.

Carpenter ants can do great damage in a short amount of time, so if you find carpenter ants, call for professional help immediately.

Most situations call for a multi-faceted approach to ant treatment. Treatments should include both a pesticide application in combination with non-chemical control procedures that eliminate conditions conducive to ant infestations. Control procedures for eliminating ants include blocking possible entrances, trimming vegetation away from your home, eliminating moisture problems, removing fire wood, and other measures. Properties may need multiple treatment methods like spraying, dusting, and baiting. Even though your ants are inside, perimeter treatment will probably be necessary also.

Evaluation involves returning to the treated area to follow up and assess the effectiveness of the the service measures. The exterminator did their job, did the home owner do theirs and vice versa. It does limited good if the area is sprayed but old firewood stays piled up by a wooded frame house.

When you call and consult with your local ant exterminator, there are five steps they need to do and some of them may involve you also.

Remember the ant elimination steps are IIRTE (IRATE). Inspect, Identify, Recommend, Treatment, and Evaluation.

Diane

Inspection has to always be the first step. It is important to locate foraging trails, ant colonies and conditions ideal for ant infestations. Look for wet areas, areas where soil and foundation come together, and anywhere food can be found. Several different species may be found, both inside and out. When inspecting for foraging workers, look for “lines” where ants like to travel such as expansion cracks in driveways and sidewalks and along walls, fences and foundations.

Identification will involve determining the ants habits and biology which will help find where the colonies are located and to develop the most cost effective ant control strategies. In some cases, specimens may be collected and brought back to a shop where they can be examined under a microscope or sent off to a state lab for proper identification.

Recommendations should address the problems and the conditions that may contribute to the ant infestation. An (IPM), integrated pest management program should be suggested so all bases are covered for future inspections and treatments.

Next post, we will cover the last two steps to ant elimination, treatment and evaluation.

Diane