carpentar ants

mudcat king · 06-27-2003, 08:04 PM

I,m having a problem with carpentar ants and before I call a professional out I thought I might ask for some advice from someone who has had a similar problem. The stuff they sell at the stores they just turn their noses up to, so was wondering if anyone had any solutions. Thanks

Hogmaster · 06-27-2003, 08:35 PM

Call an exterminator. They are licensed to use stuff you can't get in the stores, and they know where and how to apply treatments.

They nest near a water source but you need to create a barrier in and around the perimeter of your house. The poisons used are tracked by the ants back to the nest and then in turn kills the nest.

I just had a treatment and have a recommendation for someone to use, as well as who not to. If you are interested shoot me an email.

Get rid of them!

STGRule · 06-27-2003, 08:38 PM

For carpenter ants? Call the pros. You have too much invested in your house to lose it to ants. I wish there was a good, safe, friendly answer. :depressed: I think you need the pros.

Fish_N_Russ · 06-27-2003, 11:10 PM

Shop around, make sure they are licensed and bonded and ask for references. If they can't give you at least a couple references to follow up on then don't bother with them. Also make sure what type of warranty and follow-up service comes with your treatment. Many times it takes several pesticide applications and this should be included (if needed) with the better applicators.

fisheromen · 06-28-2003, 12:53 PM

As a licensed Pest Control Operator and former Applicator in the State of Oregon here's my .02:

People make too big a deal about carpenter ants. Oftentimes they are nesting near the house on the grounds and only make forays inside for water. If they are in the house they will often nest in voids rather than in wood. If they do nest in wood it is usually water damaged (soft) wood. Very few carpenter ant colonies will choose sound wood (like your framing)to nest in. In fact, in 10 years in pest control, dryrot repair, and home inspections I have only seen carpenter ants in dry, sound framing lumber one time. Remember to, Carpenter ants don't eat the wood like a termite does, rather they hollow out the sapwood (leaving the heartwood) to create a nest.

In terms of extermination many colonies are fickle and easily decimated by natural variables like food and water supply, a little chemical treatment can easily push a colony over the edge. Take it as a challenge and try and see where the ants come and go from. You might be surprised at how quickly you can determine where their nest is with some patient observation. If you can locate the general area where it is treat that specific area heavily. If not you'll need to treat the perimeter of your house in a general way by spraying or spreading granules (it'd be great if you could find someone who still has some diazenon) around the entire base of the house several times over the rest of the summer while they are most active. Kemi-K in North Portland can tell you what the strongest best stuff you can legally buy is as well as give you advice on your particular situation.

Pest Control is for the most part a huge racket with exorbitant prices because of liability insurance. I don't know what part of town you are in but Kemi-K could also refer you to someone who isn't a fly by night spray jockey. You wouldn't believe how bad some of the guys out there are!

Steve

LIMIT LANDER · 06-28-2003, 02:52 PM

I had a slight problem with them last year and i havent seen them sence...although i did restack my wood ...but i used a sulution 1/3 brewers yest 1/3 powerder sugar 1/3 cup of boraxmixed it all together i thought this was a witch brew of some sort.. but i tried it last august and i havent seen a carpender ant yet. only small sugar ants...i placed little cups through out where i seen them most next to my laundry room...none there this year. now i am not saying this is the answer but it seems to help me.

mudcat king · 06-28-2003, 11:29 PM

Thanks for the replys, maybe I can get my neighbors to go in on an exterminator and they'll cut us a deal. By the way, went walleyeing this morning. Got stripped twice with good take downs but no hook-ups. Saw several salmon caught though. Got off the river before all the crazys got out there. Boat ramp was a zooooooooo!!!

fisheromen · 07-03-2003, 07:51 PM

Borax probably contains boric acid which has been used in pest control forever.

Pyramid · 07-04-2003, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LIMIT LANDER:
I had a slight problem with them last year and i havent seen them sence...although i did restack my wood ...but i used a sulution 1/3 brewers yest 1/3 powerder sugar 1/3 cup of boraxmixed it all together

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I heard this recipe on "Around the House" on KXL. People sure said good things about it.

A few years back, I noticed a few carpenter ants in my kitchen, I immediately called who I thought were the pros. They came out and drilled between every stud in my outside walls and injected their not so good spray.

A month or two later, more ants. They came back coz of the 1 yr warrantee, reinjected. The ants came back again. You could see a few on the outside wall by the kitchen. He came back every two or three mos. until the warrantee was expired. Still, every once in a while there would be an ant or two in my kitchen.

I went down to the farm store, bought a mammoth sized horse srynge with needle, some concentrated ant killer, and injected the outside walls next to the kitchen myself. Have'nt seen ants for years.

Grantspastor · 07-04-2003, 03:49 PM

The best way to get rid of them is to set their nest on fire, and then shoot them as they run out.

deefly · 07-05-2003, 06:25 AM

A few months ago I noticed a few (yikes!) ants in my kitchen off the back of the house. I thought Id try myself this year instead of the expensive and inconvenient "golden eagle" program frm the exterminators. Sprayed under the eaves and siding and then put down a heavy dose of tracking powder around the back jof the house. No ants since. Hmm......little buggers! That formula one that Jerry BAker recommends on PBS as well. Ill have to give it a go one of these times.

Flatfish · 07-06-2003, 01:45 PM

I am a PCO also. Carpenter ants can be a problem. They are not the headache that termites are in some parts of the country. If you cannot find them, and it aint too tough finding them, you may not have a colony. Looking for them is not fun. Especially if you have an insulated crawl space.

There are a lot of fly by nights out there. We don't do residential stuff because of liability concerns. But if you find a colony, and you can't kill them, I can give you a couple names of reliable professionals.

Mark.