Carpenter ants are a pest that can be difficult to get rid of. They’re also very common in the US, especially in the South and Midwest. But don’t let their name fool you these insects aren’t carpenters.
In fact, they don’t even build anything at all! So what do they do? Well, they live under houses or in trees and have an affinity for sweet things like sugary foods and juices.
Unfortunately for us humans (but fortunately for them), they also like to invade our homes by chewing through wood and creating holes that allow them access into our living spaces.
This habit makes them much more dangerous than regular household pests like cockroaches or spiders because if you see one or two ants around your home then there’s probably more where those came from!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Carpenter ants can cause significant damage to the structure of buildings if left untreated. |
| Identifying and eliminating sources of moisture is key to preventing carpenter ant infestations. |
| Treatment options for carpenter ants include baiting, dusting, and treating the nest directly. |
| Professional pest control services can provide more effective and long-lasting solutions for serious infestations. |
| Taking steps to seal cracks and crevices and repair damaged wood can help prevent carpenter ants from returning. |
Here’s how to get rid of these pesky little buggers once and for all:
Use Traps
Carpenter ant traps are a great way to eliminate the ants in your home. They can be purchased at most hardware stores and online retailers, and they work well when placed in strategic locations around your house.
Carpenter ant traps are typically made of cardboard or plastic, and they come with an attractant that attracts the ants to them. Here’s how you can use them:
- Place one carpenter ant trap near each nest you’ve spotted in your home by following these steps:
- Knock down any existing mounds with some water and soap (this will discourage new nests), then look for new spots where carpenter ants have been seen wandering around or leaving trails of sawdust from their tunnels; this may take some time since there are usually multiple nests within a single area! If none show up after checking several places over several days, try moving onto another area of your house until something works out for you.
Carpenter ants can be a stubborn pest to get rid of, but don’t fret! Our guide on how to get rid of ants in the house provides easy solutions to help you kick them out for good.
Keep Your Home And Yard Clean
Keep your home and yard clean. This is by far the most important step you can take to preventing the arrival of these undesirable guests in the first place.
Keep food in sealed containers. You don’t want ants getting into your pantry, so make sure all food items are properly sealed.
Don’t leave crumbs on the counter, either! Ants love sugar, so if there’s a crumb or two around and there will be they’ll find it and bring more friends along for dessert. The same goes for pet food; if it’s not kept covered all day long, ants will be right over to feast!
Make sure trash cans are in good condition and never leave them outside overnight (or even during daylight hours). If your trash can has holes in its bottom or sides, those holes allow easy access for many varieties of insects including carpenter ants!
When taking out the garbage at night time just keep in mind that these pests love sweet liquids like soda or beer (if left open) as well as greasy foods like fried chicken or potato chips that have been left out too long on top of other foods inside cupboards.”
Liquid Baits
Liquid baits are another great option for ant control and it’s worth noting that they’re effective either inside or out. Liquid baits are long-lasting, which means you won’t have to apply them as often as gels or sprays.
However, they’re not toxic to humans or pets so there’s no need to be concerned about any dangerous side effects from applying this method.
They’re also easy to apply since you just place them where ants can find them easily—in cracks on the floorboards and along walls where ants are traveling through your home.
Dealing with ants that just won’t quit? Our experience in how to get rid of ants permanently may be just what you need to finally say goodbye to those pesky pests.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a fine powder made from the fossilized remains of tiny sea creatures called diatoms. These exoskeletons are sharp, and when they’re ground into a fine powder, they retain their ability to pierce the protective outer layer of many insects and arachnids.
Diatomaceous earth can be used against carpenter ants in two ways: as a dust for long-term prevention, or as an insecticide for immediate pest control.
Diatomaceous earth works best when mixed with water until it becomes wet but not soggy; then you apply it using either a dusting tool, such as a paintbrush or piece of cardboard with holes poked into it; or an aerosol sprayer that releases an even mist over your target area (in this case, your home).
The upside of using diatomaceous earth is that it’s considered safe for humans and pets—the downside is that it’s not particularly effective at killing all varieties of ants right away.
It may take several days before you notice any results from using this method on carpenter ants (or other pests).
| Benefits | How to Use |
|---|---|
| Kills carpenter ants by dehydrating them | Apply a dusting of diatomaceous earth to areas where ants are present, such as cracks and crevices or along ant trails. |
| Non-toxic and safe for pets and humans | Diatomaceous earth is a natural mineral that is safe to use around pets and humans. |
| Effective at eliminating other pests | In addition to carpenter ants, diatomaceous earth can also be used to control other pests such as bed bugs, fleas, and cockroaches. |
| Safe for use both indoors and outdoors | Diatomaceous earth can be applied indoors or outdoors to control carpenter ants and other pests. |
| Works gradually over time | While diatomaceous earth can be effective in killing carpenter ants, it may take several weeks to see results. |
Boric Acid
Boric acid is the active ingredient in many ant baits. It’s a white powder that’s toxic to insects, but not humans. Ants are drawn to the powder and take it back to their nests where it kills them and their young.
Boric acid is an effective method for getting rid of carpenter ants because it can be used as a barrier around your home or indoors. You should place boric acid wherever you’ve seen carpenter ants, including around doors and windowsills.
Sugar ants are tiny, but they can cause big problems if left unchecked. Our pro tips on how to get rid of sugar ants can help you prevent or eliminate these pests in no time.
Ant Baits
Make sure you buy the right bait. The best bait for carpenter ants is a mixture of a sweet leachate and borax, which will be labeled as such.
Place baits in the right places. You want to place them along the wall or floor where you think your nest might be, but not too close to other areas of your home (like food or water sources). Ants like to travel along walls and floors so make sure that’s where you place your baits!
Keep an eye on the bait to make sure the ants are taking it. If you don’t see any activity around your bait after a few days, try moving it slightly or adding some more liquid so they can get down into it better.
If this doesn’t work or if there are no signs of infestation at all then consider getting an ant trap instead!
These traps come with pheromone attractants which draw in only male carpenter ants – meaning no harm done while also ensuring that new nests won’t form elsewhere in your home!
Getting rid of ants outside your home can feel like an uphill battle. Instead of throwing in the towel, check out our guide on how to get rid of ants outside permanently for effective and long-lasting solutions
Use Cornmeal
To get rid of carpenter ants, you will want to use cornmeal. You can find out where the nest is by looking for small piles of sawdust and other debris around their entry point. You may also notice some ants carrying bits of wood back to their home.
Once you have located the nest, sprinkle the cornmeal over it and let it sit for a few days before cleaning it up.
After following these steps, you should be able to eliminate your presence as an ant buffet! If not, try using another method until all signs have disappeared. The best thing about this solution is that it will not harm humans or pets but only kill off these pesky insects so that they don’t come back in force later on!
Vinegar
This is another natural ant repellent that you can use to get rid of ants. It’s also very cheap and effective, though you will have to be prepared for a little bit of staining if you use it in combination with some other methods like borax or salt.
To kill ants with vinegar, simply mix equal parts vinegar with water in a spray bottle and spray the mixture over areas where you think there might be ants. Most people recommend spraying the mixture on walls, behind furniture and even along baseboards—a thorough coverage is key here!
You should also note that this method doesn’t work as well when it comes to large infestations (more than one nest), so if that is an issue then we highly recommend using other products instead such as borax or diatomaceous earth (DE).
Find The Ants’ Nest And Destroy It
Find the ants’ nest and destroy it. If you can’t find a nest, there are other ways to get rid of them. Carpenter ants usually make their nests in hollow trees, stumps or logs, so make sure that you check these areas before calling an exterminator.
If you do find a nest and want to destroy it yourself, just make sure that you wear protective clothing and goggles so that you don’t get stung by any loose carpenter ants or crushed by falling wood pieces as they come down from being cut out of their home.
If your home does not have any accessible wood for nesting purposes — perhaps due to having been built too recently — then this might be an indication that your carpenter ant problem was brought over with building materials; in which case it’s best not to try solving the problem yourself since doing so could result in serious injury or even death (from poisoning).
Don’t let ants take over your home! Our guide on how to stop ants from coming in the house provides simple and effective tips to keep these tiny invaders outside where they belong.
Use Natural Essential Oils As A Repellent
You can use essential oils to repel ants. A few examples of essential oils that will keep carpenter ants at bay include eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil and citronella oil.
Eucalyptus oil is particularly effective as an ant repellent because it has a strong scent that they don’t like. If you want to try this method, here’s what you’ll need:
- 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (you can find this at any health food store)
- 4 oz of water in spray bottle or diffuser (either will work for your purposes)
Get A Cat. No, Seriously, Get A Cat
You may have heard that cats are natural predators of ants and other pests, but it’s not just a myth. Cats really do make good ant control.
Not only can they catch and eat the ants, but their mere presence is enough to deter them from entering your home in the first place.
Cat ownership has been proven to have many health benefits for humans as well as cats themselves:
Cats’ purrs can help lower blood pressure and reduce stress hormones like cortisol by up to 65%.
Pets can also help people feel less lonely and isolated after the loss of a loved one or divorce.
Studies show that owning pets reduces cardiovascular disease risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides (a type of fat found in your blood), insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes) as well as reducing inflammation throughout your body.
Conclusion
Getting rid of carpenter ants is a little tricky, but it can be done! With these tips and tricks, you should be able to keep them from taking over your home or yard.
If you have any other ideas for how to keep these pests away from your property, please share them with us in the comments below.
Further reading
Here are some additional resources for getting rid of carpenter ants:
Country Living: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – This guide provides tips on identifying and treating carpenter ant infestations.
This Old House: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – Learn about baiting, dusting, and other methods for dealing with carpenter ants.
wikiHow: How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – This comprehensive guide offers step-by-step instructions for identifying, eliminating, and preventing carpenter ant infestations.
FAQs
How do I know if I have carpenter ants?
Carpenter ants are typically black or red and can grow up to 1 inch in length. They are often found near moist or damaged wood, and you may notice piles of sawdust or small holes in wood where they have been burrowing.
What damage can carpenter ants cause?
Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they do tunnel through it to make their nests. Over time, this can weaken the structure of a building and cause significant damage if left untreated.
How can I get rid of carpenter ants?
There are several methods for getting rid of carpenter ants, including baiting, dusting, and treating the nest directly. It is also important to remove sources of moisture and replace any damaged wood to prevent future infestations.
Can I prevent carpenter ants from coming back?
Yes, you can take several steps to prevent carpenter ants from returning, such as sealing cracks and crevices, repairing damaged wood, and reducing sources of moisture around your home.
Should I hire a professional to get rid of carpenter ants?
While it is possible to eliminate carpenter ants on your own, a professional may be able to provide more effective and long-lasting solutions. If you have a serious infestation or are unsure how to properly treat the problem, it may be worth consulting with a pest control expert.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
