maple tree infested with ants

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WE HAVE AN OLD MAPLE THAT IS LOADED WITH CARPENTER ANTS. IS IT TOO LATE TO SAVE THE TREE?

It’s not likely carpenter ants can kill a tree by themselves. In fact most trees will develop weak spots where pests like ants love to nest. But even after a nest is started, most won’t harm a tree. However, there are a few that can and no doubt carpenter ants are one of these “bad” species.

That being said, in my experience it’s more likely they’ll use spaces, cracks and crevices already present on the tree to make their nests. Such areas will develop under the bark or where limbs sustain normal damage due to weather or wind. So if you’re seeing a healthy tree full of leaves and void of any evident sickness, it’s more likely the ants have an active nest but that the tree is still very much alive. Such trees should be able to live indefinitely and are designed to overcome mild insect activity. But should you allow the ants to continue nesting even if the tree is healthy? No way!

If you’d like to ensure the tree’s long term health, get it treated with some TERMIDOR. This unique formulation is slow acting and as ants travel over the treated bark, they’ll be picking up a dose of active that will eventually spread throughout their nest. Within 4-8 days, it will effectively shut down any nests it’s carried to making it both effective yet easy to use without knowing where the nests are located. But if you can see where the nest is located, a direct treatment with the DRIONE will be fast and immediate. Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Termidor:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/termidor-sc-20-oz

Drione:  http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/dust/drione-dust

Carpenter Ant Control: https://www.carpenterants.com/carpenter-ant-control

carpenter ants in tree

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I’ve been seeing large black ants going up a tree in my yard and I’m pretty sure they’re carpenter ants. I can’t see where they might be nesting because the tree is a huge oak. I don’t want them killing the tree but I don’t want to hurt the tree treating it. What can I use that’s both safe and effective?

Carpenter ants will readily forage up a tree for food. Some of these trees will many times be prime locations for a nest. There is no doubt that over time an active carpenter ant nest will kill a tree faster than normal. To stop this from happening, there are two ways you can treat that are easy.

The simplest approach is to get some Carpenter Ant Gel and apply it to the trunk where they are traveling. Carpenter Ants will find it as they ascend the tree, feed and share it with their nest. This will ultimately kill all the ants. The second option is to treat the tree with some Termidor. Spray the trunk down so that any ants walking up the tree will have to cross the treated surface. This will shut the nest down as explained in our Carpenter Ant Control article.