Carpenter ants!!

[Lorikr65]

We starting getting ants in the house early spring. I sprayed around the foundation with stuff I got from a pest control company. They seemed to go away. Then I realized it would probably be better to bait them. So someone told me that you mix borax with sugar and leave it out for them. I did this but 1 got kicked, another tipped over - it made a mess. So, I bought the Terro ant baits. Put a few inside, a few outside. We've had large amounts of rain lately and I'm finding them here and there in the house again.

I called a local pest control company. The guy seemed really cocky to me. When I told him what I had done he was like "and how is that working for you, not too good, huh?" I told him that there was a stump under my deck that had dissintegrated (sp?) and he was like "I'd be more worried about termites than ants". Anyway, he gave me a quote of $269, said it would take 4 hours and it was guaranteed for a year.

I just not sure whether my problem is normal and just needs more spraying and baiting or when it actually becomes a bigger problems. I welcome any suggestions!!

Lori

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OK, carpenter ants are just as destructive as termites. If you have had them that long I would certainly get a couple of more quotes.

Where are you seeing them in your house now?

They probably are damaging the structure inside your house. You need to find the source inside.
Generally, they like to set up shop underneath a bathtub or shower, inside your house. Basically anywhere near water inside.

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

I don't have many suggestions, as we have been battling them all summer. I will tell ya though that we had a pest control company come out and spray, and he must have sprayed a "come hither" scent because they actually increased! He said that this might happen for a few days because they would be run out of their home into ours, but nearly 2 months later, they were still there. I bought the ant baits, and they seem to be working pretty well. Just an ocassional ant here and there.

 

[Lorikr65]

OK, carpenter ants are just as destructive as termites. If you have had them that long I would certainly get a couple of more quotes.

Where are you seeing them in your house now?

They probably are damaging the structure inside your house. You need to find the source inside.
Generally, they like to set up shop underneath a bathtub or shower, inside your house. Basically anywhere near water inside.

In the beginning of the year I saw a few in the 1st floor living room and upstairs also. No I'm just finding them on the first floor (maybe 10 in the past week). I think I've found 1-2 upstairs.

If they were under a bathtub would you see a bunch of them in the bathroom?? The caulking around the tub wore out and we didn't notice and I'm wondering if water got to the subfloor. But I don't even think I've seen more than maybe 1 in there. No sawdust anywhere in or outsidie the house.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you are seeing carpenter ants inside your house, you are infested and they probably have a large nest in your house.
(sorry so gross)
I would get a professional to find the nest. They eat your support beams in your house just like termites.
You will see them coming out for water.

 

[Bildmouse]

We've had those little critters invade twice in thirty years. The first time they covered our kitchen ceiling. They were coming from old oak trees that were in our yard. We had pest control company come monthly for about two years and had the trees taken down. No more problems for about 15 years. Then an empty lot behind us was built on and the critters reappeared although not as bad. Once again had pest control for about a year or two. Chances are they are coming from the rotted stump under the deck. Spraying just once won't control them and you will probably need monthy service for a while but you really need to get the rotting stump removed.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Whatever you do make sure your structure is checked over with a fine tooth comb. If not, it gets icky...

I agree you need to get the stump out of there.

 

[aprilgail2]

Those bait traps do not work with carpenter ants. I was in the store looking for carpenter ant killer and there was a guy in the store shopping, he walked over and told me he used to be an extrerminator and not to waste my money on them, if you read them they just say ants..not carpenter ants. I found where mine were coming in and sealed that up before calling in an exterminator. That 269.00 quote you got is actually really good, you can't get one around here for less than 500.00!

 

[Lorikr65]

I'm assuming that all ants larger than pavement ants are carpenter ants. Is that correct. I never brought a sample anywhere and had someone identify it. If the nest is in the house why do they only come out in the spring?? I can see if the nest is outside and they "stay in" for the winter!!

I think I'll call a pest control company in the morning and just ask for a quote for a contract. I wonder what it is that they use that works but the stuff we buy doesn't??!!

 

[buzzlady]

This is a carpenter ant.

http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/CarpAnt004.shtml

 

[Lorikr65]

Nice pic (gross)!! I can't really tell!! The ones I kill sometimes are brown, sometimes black, sometimes brownish red and sometimes each section is a different color!!

 

[buzzlady]

Nice pic (gross)!! I can't really tell!! The ones I kill sometimes are brown, sometimes black, sometimes brownish red and sometimes each section is a different color!!

They can also be red. I added a link above if you want to read it.

We had them when we moved into our house. We called an exterminator and haven't had any problems since.

 

[Lorikr65]

I was just reading a site about swarmers. The last 2 years we had that happen - it seems to come from in back of our house. This year it happened about a week ago - we must have found about 50 winged ants in our pool (about 25 feet from the house). It seems like they are coming from the lot in back of our house.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you are having swarmers, then I would make sure your termite protection is still going and double check for a carpenter ant colony in your house, just in case.

Then remove the stump and you should be good to go!

 

[ducklite]

We had both carpenter ants and termites in our NJ house. What a disaster! The carpenters ants began in a tree that they ate to death outside. They do like water sources, and we know where they were coming from. It took annual treatments to keep them at bay. They finally went away when we had the stump removed and treated a irrigation pit near our house.

The termites were a different story. They did so much damage we had to ahve holes drilled through the slab to treat under the house, replace drywall and studs, it was terrible.

My advice is to get a reliable pest control company in asap to treat, and get rid of that stump, and have the soil and all soft wood trees outside the hosue treated as well.

Anne

 

[Lorikr65]

I am going to call a few pest control places in the morning. I went out to take a look at the stump and it is basically almost gone. I took a shovel and threw a few shovel fulls of dirt out and I would get a piece of wood here and there and I think I saw maybe 1 ant, but I only went about a foot deep.

The swarmers, I believe, are coming from a wooded area in back of my house - maybe 30-40 feet away. We know the people who live about 3 houses away and they experienced the same thing, as well as people we know who live almost a mile away on the same road!! I also use to get citronella ants so I'm not sure if it could be them (they are not destructive).

 

[DawnCt1]

I have neighbors that had carpenter ants. Apparently they were only a big problem in the summer and since they stayed at a cottage all summer, the "problem" didn't bother them. They would find them in the dishwasher. That's a real bad sign. Well last year it costs them $85,000 to repair the damage that the ants caused. Never ignore carpenter ants. We put diazanon crystal around the foundation every spring and again in the summer. If you are seeing 7 in a week, you have an ant problem at least beginning. Kill the buggers!!! Get the exterminator.

 

[momrek06]

OP, I am in MA. I built a brand new house and moved in June 1, 2005. Great, fine...this June I noticed ONE carpenter ant...started to get a tad bit concerned when 2 days later notice 3...called around and got quotes...all were $400 or more. We have a home/office. We have people here from early am thru evening...I could not go with the option to LEAVE the house for hours type chemical treatment. I called Terminex = $500.00 for the treatment inside and outside as well as my new shed. They will come back 3 more times automatically within the year. I could not believe I had a new house and was seeing these ants more and more. The man came and spent several hours spraying/treating the entire house and yard and shed. Then 2 hours later they have an Inspector follow up and go through the entire house and exam what the fellow did earlier and give my tips. I had stored a ton of bags in the basement....get them off the floor and hang them up...also I had items stored in boxes from the move (in the basement)..store everything in plastic tubs..boxes are a breeding ground for any insect.

NOW...for the next three weeks we would see all the ants come out..ugh...more and more as they proceed to DIE....YUP...all dead now. The examiner fellow actually found where they were in soil outside my sliders for the basement...millions waiting to slowly but surely come in the house.

Sorry for the ramble...but c.ants need professional treatments.

 

[Lorikr65]

I had a pest person come today. I called the realtor who sold me the house 11 years ago because I remember her giving me the name of a pest person - owns his own company. He said they are living outside - under the kickplate in the back of the house which is under an atrium door. He checked the cellar and it was fine. Told me to watch for downspouts, wood steps as they get older, etc. He gave me a price of $175 for the initial treatment and they come out when needed, and then $75 a year after that. He's coming tomorrow for the initial treatment - I can't wait!!

 

[ducklite]

I had a pest person come today. I called the realtor who sold me the house 11 years ago because I remember her giving me the name of a pest person - owns his own company. He said they are living outside - under the kickplate in the back of the house which is under an atrium door. He checked the cellar and it was fine. Told me to watch for downspouts, wood steps as they get older, etc. He gave me a price of $175 for the initial treatment and they come out when needed, and then $75 a year after that. He's coming tomorrow for the initial treatment - I can't wait!!

Good deal! Sounds like he took the time to find the source. Will they be using the slow kill stuff that they take back to the nest so they all die? You've got to kill the queen or the colony goes on...

Anne