Carpenter Ant Guide

Explore Multiple Treatment Options

Once you’ve identified the areas infested by carpenter ants, it’s essential to choose the treatment method that suits your specific needs. Carpenter ants can infest a wide range of locations, which is why there are numerous products and strategies available for effective control. Select the method that aligns with the nature of the infestation and the areas affected.

If you notice carpenter ants or debris they’ve left behind but cannot directly access the nest, a combination of carpenter ant bait and a non-repellent spray is recommended to eliminate the colony.

Key Products for Effective Carpenter Ant Control:

1. Non-Repellent Aerosol Spray:
2. Two Types of Ant Baits:

Using this combination of products is far more effective than relying on a single product. For convenience, these essential items are included in our Carpenter Ant Control Kit, making it easier to select the right tools for the job.

To effectively bait carpenter ants, place the bait near areas of ant activity rather than directly in the middle of a trail or on the ants themselves. Placing bait directly on the trail can cause the ants to avoid it, rendering the baiting process ineffective. Instead, position the bait near trails or in areas where ant activity is observed.

To maintain the freshness of the bait and protect surfaces, use the bait plate stations included in the kit.

Recommended Bait Placement Locations:

• Inside kitchen cabinets and on countertops.
• Behind, next to, or under the stove.
• Near sinks or drains.
• Around pipes, cords, and cables emerging from walls.
• Behind and beneath bathroom fixtures.
• Around the medicine cabinet and vanity.
• Near window or door frames.

Using a non-repellent carpenter ant spray is an excellent way to complement baiting efforts. This approach is recommended for two key reasons:

1. Ant Behavior:
2. Application Limitations:

Non-repellent sprays are included in our ant kits because they are undetectable to ants. When ants come into contact with the spray, it adheres to their bodies and is carried back to the colony, allowing the product to spread and infect more ants. While these sprays take several days to begin killing, this delay ensures maximum distribution throughout the colony.

Application Instructions:

Using the straw applicator provided:

• Apply the spray into cracks and crevices along baseboards.
• Treat areas under appliances.
• Spray around door and window frames.
• Target entry points where utilities such as cables, pipes, and wires penetrate the structure.
• Focus on areas where ants have been observed entering your home.

This method effectively targets carpenter ants while remaining undetected, ensuring thorough colony elimination.

If you locate the carpenter ant nest, you can target it directly for fast elimination. Depending on the nest's location, there are several treatment options:

• For Wall Voids: Use a foam insecticide or ant dust to completely fill the void and treat the area effectively.
• For Exposed Areas (e.g., Wood Beams): Apply foam or dust directly to the affected section of the wood to eliminate the ants within the nest.

These methods provide a focused approach to eliminate the colony at its source.

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How to Eliminate Carpenter Ants Nesting in Walls

If carpenter ants have established a nest in a wall void, there are a few options for treatment:

1. Accessing the Infestation:

Treatment Options for Wall Voids:

Foams:

• Ready-to-use foam products come with a flexible hose and nozzle for precise application into voids.
• For larger infestations, consider using a non-repellent concentrate spray combined with a foaming agent and a foaming device.
• While foams may work slower than dusts, they expand to cover a larger area, making them ideal for thorough coverage in wall voids.

Dusts:

• Select a dust specifically labeled for carpenter ant control.
• Use a hand duster to apply the dust into the void or directly into the gallery if the nest is in wood.
• Dusts typically kill ants faster than foams, but may require drilling additional holes or slightly opening the wall to ensure even application.

By targeting wall voids effectively, you can quickly eliminate carpenter ant nests and prevent further damage.

If you notice carpenter ants around the exterior of your home or structure, outdoor treatment is essential to prevent a new infestation indoors. Alongside treatment, it’s important to modify the environment around your home that initially attracted the ants.

Outdoor sanitation goes beyond basic cleaning. For effective carpenter ant control, it involves eliminating or altering the resources ants rely on to survive. Like all pests, ants need three key elements to thrive:

• Food sources
• Water or moisture
• Shelter or harborage

By reducing or removing these necessities, you can make your property less appealing to carpenter ants and other pests.

Outdoor Sanitation Tips:

1. Trim Trees and Shrubs:
2. Elevate Bushes and Shrubs:
3. Create a Dry Zone:
4. Aerate Mulch or Bedding Materials:
5. Clean Gutters and Downspouts:
6. Maintain Your Lawn:
7. Remove Ripe Fruit:
8. Manage Trash Storage:

By following these sanitation and preparation steps, you can reduce the likelihood of carpenter ant infestations while maintaining a healthier outdoor environment.

Carpenter ants can establish nests in numerous outdoor locations, so the treatment approach may differ depending on the specific situation. Below, we outline the most common methods for addressing outdoor carpenter ant infestations. If you encounter an unusual nesting site or require personalized guidance, our customer care team is available to assist with expert advice.

How to Effectively Spray for Carpenter Ants Outdoors

If carpenter ants are active on the exterior of your home, treating the perimeter can help eliminate the colony effectively.

Why Use Non-Repellent Sprays?

We highly recommend using non-repellent sprays such as Termidor SC or Advion WDG. Here’s why:

• Traditional Ant Sprays:
• Non-Repellent Products:

Application Instructions

1. Preparation:
2. Perimeter Treatment:
3. Limitations:

If the carpenter ants are located farther from your home or if spraying is not an ideal option, using carpenter ant bait granules is a highly effective alternative. These granules can be spread over larger areas but tend to work best when placed in small, teaspoon-sized mounds near areas where ant activity has been observed.

Carpenter ants are most active during the night, so it's best to apply the bait just before sunset on an evening when no rain is expected. As the ants forage, they will collect the bait and transport it back to the colony to feed others. Over the course of a few weeks, this method will result in the elimination of the colony.