carpenter ants

[woodbutcher]

Carpenter ants seem to have moved into my attic.They are a large ant(3/8" long) that moves quickly. Every year in the fall fire ants come inside, and I treat the trail at the foundation. That stops their progress. These large ants don't seem to operate the same way, though. I have not found any trails. Does anybody have experience with getting rid of theses critters?
Butch

 

[glennster]

i have used ant bait (hardware stores or big box stores sell it) there is one just for carpenter ants. one type is a paste, other s have little bait boxes. the ants pick up the bait and take it back to the colony, it kills the whole colony. if you perimeter spray, they will look for another way in. find a trail the ants are using and put the bait there.

 

[LeoinMI]

I used to work for a pest control buisness. Carpenter ants usually nest where ther is rotted wood. Check for a leak in your roof to see if the wood is softor rotted. Spraying the nest then replacing any rotted wood gets rid of them. They need wood and moisture to live just like termites.

 

[LeoinMI]

Actually the ants live off from afids (small insects) they herd them like cattle to their colony and store them for food. They perfer rotted wood for their nest because they excavate the wood they do not eat it. Small piles of sawdust (powdery like substance) usually leads to the nest site.

 

[VaTom]

Carpenter ants here also like expanded polystyrene insulation (beadboard) to live in. SIPs in particular. The exterminator drilled numerous holes in the foundation and poisoned liberally.

This colony was in the second floor walls, disconcerting to hear them moving around inside the walls. Not my house, and the guy who owned it sold it. He's in a concrete house now.

 

[hansen]

Might try a bait called "Come and Get It". I know, dumb name. But I"ve seen whole colonies dead in just a couple of days. Label says Army ants, but it"s supposed to work on all kinds.

 

[Gun guru]

I also used to have carpenter ants.

But thanks to Tempo SC they are all dead.

Go to the website:

www.doityourselfpestcontrol.com

SC stands for super concentrate. It is in liquid form and you mix a tablespoon with a quart of water and spray the foundation, attic, where ever you see them.
I have been using this for 6 years now and the carpenter ant problem is gone. I apply it 4-6 times per year between 4-15 and 10-1.
About 50 bucks for a 1 pint container, it is worth every penny.
Have fun.

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks, I'll check into that. I've heard of using Tempo on fire ants, too.
Butch

 

[woodbutcher]

Thanks for all replies. I found them in the driest part of my attic-an area I use for woodworking. There is a lot of sawdust on everything, so it will be hard to find the nest. I happened to pick up my router case, and about 20 ants fell onto my workbench. There must be more in the insulation the case was sitting on.
Butch

 

[Ernie Blattler]

A very effective product.
AMDRO Ant Block
Granules to be around perimeter of building or close to entry trail.They go after it very quickly,and head for the nest with it.It worked
very well for me. No trace of ants since applied. Got mine at ACE Hardware.Label says
Kills carpenter ants and 14 other ant species.
Good Luck