Carpenter Ants
Carpenter Ant Identification and Treatment
Identification
- Dark brown to black
- Except for Florida Carpenter Ant. Ranges from black, brown, yellow, to red in color.
- large in size (1/4-3/8 inch)
- more active at night
Location
- moist environments such as rotting or damp wood
- hollowed out wood (hollow door)
- window sills
- facia boards
Geographic Location
- Most of US
- Florida Carpenter Ants
- Southeast Coastal Plain of US
Treatment Methods
1. Baiting
- Find the trail
- Apply both sweet and a protein bait to the trail
- Carpenter ants go on both sweet and protein cycles so it is important to treat for both
-Why bait?
- only treating indoors
- can not spray around the perimeter of your structure
- easy to apply
2. Spraying Non-Repellent Insecticides
- apply to the perimeter of your structure
- two feet up and two feet out from the base your structure
- apply around any entry point (door frame, window sill, AC unit, etc.)
-Why spray?
- the most effective at eliminating and preventing Carpenter Ant problem
- Longer residual
3. Hollow Spaces and Walls
- look for damage in areas such as window sills, hollow doors, behind baseboards and other hollow areas
- drill holes (2-6 feet) on either side of nest and apply your dust, aerosol or foam
- do not use insecticides in voids
Recommended Treatment
- use a combination of baiting and spraying
- More Information: How to Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants