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Over the last two weeks My laundry room has been infested with carpenter ants, they are very slow moving and sometimes just going around in circles and then they die, they have been centered around the furnace and water heater. The dead ones just stay there (not collected by live ones as I have seen in the past) but then more live ones appear following the same pattern. We have always had them in our house to differing degrees and have treated them with barrier sprays etc, but we have found them mainly in the kitchen and bathrooms and have never had this problem of them dying “enmass” in previous years. Please advise.

It would appear that one of your satellite carpenter ant nests has fallen victim to either a previous treatment or social disease. This commonly happens and is one of the reasons carpenter ants will have a main nest surrounded by 2-4 satellites. This way a component nest can die and the community will survive and resurrect itself through the effort of it’s surviving satellites.

I’m not sure what you’ve been applying but based on what you’re finding, it’s obvious you need to do more. For starters I suggest you get some PHANTOM AEROSOL and treat as much of the area around the furnace as possible. I also suggest you start using some PHANTOM EC outside. As explained on it’s product page, this unique active will slowly “kick in” and when it does, all the ants that have come in contact with it will die. This is very different from how many concentrates work and in fact, why most fail as a general way to control carpenter ants. Our article covers many options but based on your situation, I believe the Phantom is the way to go for now. Because of it’s mode of action, any ants that forage over it will die and in you situation, this will surely happen. Ultimately you’ll stand a much better chance at winning the war against this pest.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Phantom Aerosol: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/aerosol/pt-phantom-17-5oz

Phantom Concentrate: http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/phantom-21-oz

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

I think that I have identified the ants we have by your article. However, they are in the house, in the wall behind our bath tub faucets. So when you take a bath, the water flow noise apparently disturb them so they come out and then drop into the bath water. What is the best pesticide to use and what do you suggest is the best way to get to them to poison?? This is a most distressing problem with ants almost everywhere when you take a bath. I can hardly make myself take a bath and I have to scoop out dead ants prior to getting into the water!!! I will appreciate any help you can give us. Thank you in advance.

In most cases people are not aware of where the ants are nesting. In your case, you seem pretty sure where they’re living. In fact bathroom walls are one of the most common locations for carpenter ants to use. These areas are usually moist and at least humid which carpenter ants love. No doubt this is why they target the bath room in so many homes.

I recommend using the most direct approach possible. That means drilling some holes and pumping the DRIONE dust into the wall void. Drill between the studs all the way around the room. These holes can be above any water proof walls you might have. And don’t forget you can access this space from two sides. That means if there is a closet on the other side it might be easier to drill through that wall instead of the closet.

I also suggest doing a good dusting on the outside of the home. This should be done now and then in the spring I’d followup with some CARPENTER ANT BAIT and spray on the foundation. The BIFEN is a good product to use and if done throughout the year, you won’t have any chance of a reinfestation.

Here are direct links to the information and products listed above:

Drione: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page91.html

Carpenter Ant Bait: http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page253.html

Bifen: http://www.bugspray.com/item/bifen_it.html

carpenter ants dying around furnace

ants in wall behind bath tub