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Carpenter Ants - They Are Not Builders!
Recently, I noticed an increase in the number
of large black ants on the deck attached to the
back of my house. Until my father mentioned it I
did not really give it a thought but when he
pointed out that these were carpenter ants I
began to get a bit concerned. The fact that some
of them were working their way under the siding
indicated that I should probably do something
about this before it became a major issue.
Previously, I had used some commercial sprays
and/or granules to control small (probably sweet
or grease eating ants) colonies next to my
driveway but this problem appeared to be more
widespread. Checking in at the local DIY home
repair superstore, I found there were a number
of different options for treating this problem.
What I failed to do is to consider how/when to
apply my chosen solution. Note: Before applying
any pesticide make sure to thoroughly read all
of the instructions and warnings. It is also a
good idea to discuss this with a professional or
somebody who has gone through the process
previously.
Choosing a concentrated liquid pesticide I
applied it to my deck, foundation and portions
of the siding with a garden sprayer in the areas
where the ants were seen. So far, so good.
However, around an hour later I ran into an
unforeseen consequence of NOT getting some
advice first - mainly that the ants that were
disturbed and/or dying had to go someplace.
Around an hour later I started to notice a
tremendous number of dying ants inside my house
adjacent to the treated area. Since this seemed
to indicate that I might already have an ant
problem in my house and not just on the deck I
decided it was time to call the professionals
for an analysis.
Getting some suggestions from co-workers and
neighbors, I contacted a local company to have
an analysis done - some of the larger franchise
operations can be very expensive but the company
I selected provided a free estimate and their
treatment options were reasonably priced. Upon
being told of the problem and what steps had
been taken, they suggested a localized treatment
instead of a full home treatment - a
considerably less expensive option. They pointed
out the likely problem area, where there seems
to have been moisture damage in the past, and
explained how the treatment should kill any ants
my spraying had not as well as providing a
residual knock down for any unhatched ants that
came along later. They informed us that the
treatment would take 7 to 10 days during which
period I would still see a few ants but to let
them know if the problem persisted.
The professional was very willing to share some
suggestions on what to look for and what
preventative steps to take to help prevent this
from occurring again. Here are the suggestions I
have gotten from the professionals as well as
those that friends and neighbors have gotten
from them as well.
Border/Area Treatments - If you live in
an area with a lot of old trees, there are
probably carpenter ants in the area. Keeping
them out of your house is the best solution.
There are many granular and liquid treatments.
Apply them from the house outward (you want to
keep them out, not push them closer to your
home!). If you are using an area treatment as
more than a border guard, make sure that you
start near the home and work outward.
Look for Ants - The most obvious sign of
a problem is ants - if you see many of them in a
small area, you might have a problem. You may
always have a few isolated ants around, but if
you are finding a couple every day in a specific
area you may have a problem.
Check the Interior - Carpenter ants often
gain access in areas where water damage has
softened up the wood for them to work with. Look
for discolored areas where you have have had
water (where it should not be) in the past. Also
check for signs of ant activity. The most
obvious sign is small areas where there appears
to be sawdust (a result of the ants boring
through wood). Also look for any areas that
might indicate access to the outside - in my
case, there are areas where (once the insulation
is moved) you can see daylight between the
foundation and the frame of the house.
Seal it up - Caulk, putty, or otherwise seal up
any openings you found. Caulking seams is a
fairly quick and easy process. If you see areas
where there was water damage, you will want to
address whatever may have caused the damage (if
water can get in, ants probably an also!)
When in doubt, call a
Professional Jefferson City Handyman - Many
local companies will provide free analysis and
estimates. If you are unsure you have a problem,
contact them.
Ray Breitenbach writes for Simple Home Repairs.
Please visit for more information on how to
perform you own basic home repairs.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Breitenbach
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