carpenter ants in the home

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I have large black ants in my home and I’m pretty sure they’re carpenter ants. I see them on the counter, around my dishwasher and in my pantry. The problem is I have 2 cats, a dog and some kids I don’t want to poison. Is there something I can do that won’t hurt my pets or kids but still get rid of the ants? I really don’t want to spray inside but I’ve heard these ants can cause a lot of damage so I guess I have to do something.

The good news is that you should be able to treat this problem without putting your family at any real risk. We have a bunch of information about Carpenter Ants and I suggest you take some time to read through it if you haven’t already. It’s important to understand that carpenter ants can cause a lot of damage and of all the ants that can nest inside, they’re probably the only one that can do any significant damage to a structure if given the chance.

Fortunately there are several products available these days which are both good at controlling carpenter ants and safe to use. Inside, you’ll need to set out some Carpenter Ant Gel where the ants are active. This can be up in cabinets, out of sight and where only the ants can find it. Foraging ants are looking for food and the Gel is something the love to eat. Once they find it and start taking it back to their nest, you’ll notice a big reduction on how many you’re seeing.

Outside requires some liquid treatments to the foundation. These treatments will insure more don’t come inside and should be done every 2-3 months once the problem is resolved; more frequently when you’re seeing activity. Choose one of the liquid materials we have listed in our Carpenter Ant Article or the ECO IC Non Toxic alternative. The ECO IC won’t last as long  but is safe for us in sensitive areas and would be a good choice if you’re hesitant about spraying but really do want to get rid of these ants.

how to kill wood ants in wood pile

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I’ve been seeing a lot of wood ants around my firewood pile. I see saw dust like something is grinding up the wood and I’m pretty sure it’s the wood ants. Is there anything I can spray on the wood that won’t be toxic to burn?

Wood ants, also known as carpenter ants, like to nest in wood as explained in our carpenter ant article. They don’t eat the wood but rather bore through it creating voids in which they nest. Firewood piles are common places for such activity and will almost always attract wood ants if left untreated.

First, locate the wood pile as far away from your home as you can. This will help to decrease the likelihood that they’ll create a nest on the house. Next, treat the wood with Diatomaceous Earth using a Hand Duster. This will both kill them on contact and keep them away. Apply as needed throughout the season. This should keep them controlled but if you find the dust isn’t working well enough, get some of the Termidor and spray it around the base of the pile. This way any ants coming to or leaving the wood pile will be affected and this will keep the area wood ant nest free.

carpenter ant in kitchen

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I’ve seen a carpenter ant or two in my kitchen this past month and I’m thinking I might have a problem. Last year we only saw a few each month but now it’s as many as a few each day. I have no idea where they’re coming from or where the nest might be located. How should I treat this problem?

Knowing where the carpenter ant nest is located usually helps a lot when treating a local carpenter ant infestation. At this point I can’t say that you have a nest inside the home or not. But if you are seeing as many as you state, chances are high that you do have a nest on the premises. I suggest two things.

First, apply some of the Carpenter Ant Gel we have listed in our Carpenter Ant article. Any ants foraging into the home will surely find the offering, feed and die. If some make it back to the nest, you’ll probably kill the nest too. This would be ideal.

Second, to make sure you don’t keep getting new ants foraging on the home, apply some Suspend to the outside perimeter of the building. Apply the product with a good Pump Sprayer to insure you get a barrier in place to stop foraging ants. Use this material every 2-3 months during the spring, summer and fall and you should be able to keep the ants outside and out of your house.