Carpenter Ants

[BarryRX]

I have a friend in Ocala who is having trouble in his home with carpenter ants. He has cut back the tree limbs that were touching his house. Does anyone have any suggestions on what he should use to rid his house of the problem? Thanks!

[sunnyatlast]

Call the professional exterminators before they eat inside the walls and attic of the house.

[obxgal]

We had them up north in our log house and used Spectricide termite and carpenter ant killer. You can usually get it at Home depot or Lowes.

[jblum315]

They don't do as much damage as termites but still plenty. Don't do it yourself, call professional exterminator

[SouthOfTheBorder]

Eliminate all external sources of water/moisture adjacent to/touching the house. Moist, dead wood (2x4's or window/door trims for example) can be a great attraction to these insects.

Inspect for internal water leaks in or near external walls. Showers/baths/kitchens are a very common source.

Fix any unwanted moisture problems and treat outside and inside with chemicals. Google is a big help for DYI specifics.

As others have suggested, seek professional help if unsure what to do.

By the way carpenter ants do not eat wood, they burrow pathways and build nest sites. Their habits can be just as destructive as wood-eating termites.

We know from personal experience….

Don

[gomoho]

Please tell you friend to call a professional as he may have a food chain going on. The termites eat the wood, the carpenter ants eat the termites, and the lizards eat the carpenter ants. Had it going on right under my nose, but never realized till it was out of control.