We all have seen those large black ants anywhere. What are they you ask? Those large ants you see around your hose and on your deck are carpenter ants. This pest is large and black. They will grow to a size of ¼” to 5/8″. They are considered a wood destroying insects, as these ants will hollow wood out. A common misconception is that they eat wood. Termites eat wood, these ants on the other hand do not. They will hollow the wood out to create nests.

These ants are a moisture driven pest. The ideal habitat for them is moist rotten hollow wood.  Ant activity can be found up to 100 yards from the nest. This makes controlling these ants difficult. If activity is present, ants can be from 2 or more colonies. Baiting methods are usually used so the ants will bring the bait back to the colony to ensure a full eradication.

These pests feed on a variety of things such as, honeydew from aphids, dead insects, meat and fats.

Evident of carpenter ants can be found on the ground. Frass, which looks similar to sawdust can be found where carpenter ant activity is present. Frass is left behind from the ants hollowing the wood out. Carpenter ants can threaten the integrity of a home when a sever infestation is found. This can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to a structure if left untreated.

The northeast part of the country is known for these large black ants. Hot, moist summers make the habitat a vacation for these ants. This summer in particular have made carpenter ants the most called about pest here at JP McHale Pest Management. The large amount of rain we have received will keep the wood moist, and the humidity in homes will welcome these invaders.

Terro 300 Pre-Filled Liquid Ant Killer II Baits, 6-Pack

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For homeowners in Denver, Fort Collins and elsewhere in Colorado springtime coincides with the arrival of carpenter ants. These pests may wander out from their colonies on milder winter days but are really visible in large numbers once the weather warms up. They are seasonal pests that starting swarming in the spring for reproduction purposes and continue to be a nuisance throughout the summer. Even though they are annoying pests and can cause damage to your home if left unchecked, you can get rid of carpenter ants that are infesting your home or property.

In order to eliminate carpenter ant populations in your home or on your property you must understand why they are there in the first place. A common misconception about these pests is that they eat the wood they attack. In reality these large black ants only excavate the wood in order to make tunnels, galleries and to grow their nests. The mainstays of their diet include other dead or living insects, insect honeydew as well as juices from plants. They will, however, also forage for food items around your home including grease, pet food, meats, sugar and other foodstuffs commonly found in a typical kitchen.

Carpenter ants by nature prefer rotten or decayed wood but will excavate dry wood. They thrive in moisture ridden environments so you are likely to find these ants in bathroom, kitchens and other areas where moisture is at a premium including in or around household appliances and leaking pipes. They will also reside around doors, windows and foundations; often entering through cracks or even via utility lines that connect through walls. Like many insects and rodents they are fully equipped to utilize overhanging trees and shrubs to make their way indoors.

It is important to understand that while carpenter ants may seem merely annoying they can be destructive to the woodwork in and around your home. If you notice carpenter ants in or around your home this spring, contacting a pest control company in your area that offers complete carpenter ant control and relief from these pests is the best solution. Trained pest control professionals can help you locate any colonies on your property as well as offer remedies to get rid of the pests. Do-It-Yourself ant treatments are not always effective and rarely reach the source of the infestation nor completely eliminate the entire population. Remember spring is when carpenter ant activity in Denver and all of Colorado increases but you do not have to let them become a nuisance in your home.

 Terro Carpenter Ant Aerosol – 16 oz. #1900

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As one of the largest ants found in Maryland, carpenter ants range in length from a quarter of an inch to half an inch long for workers and up to three quarters of an inch long for the reproductive members. They vary in color but are mostly black or darker looking. Living in colonies that contain one queen and several thousand workers, these wood destroying insects are considered highly organized and very social. They work together for a common purpose; the survival of their colony. They will eat most anything and are attracted to people food that is sweet or that contains fats and proteins. They also consume other insects, dead or alive. A common belief about this pest is that they consume wood like termites when in fact they only excavate wood for nesting purposes.

Carpenter ants tend to prefer areas that are damp and tend to establish primary colonies in these areas. Their main colony must have a constant source of moisture to survive and is generally an underground nest that is comprised of chambers and interconnecting tunnels where food is stored, eggs are laid and nurseries are maintained. Other likely places to find primary or main carpenter ant colonies are in dead wood outside. This includes tree stumps and tree limbs. Inside homes areas that have excessive moisture provide ideal conditions for a primary colony. Leaking pipes, poorly ventilated rooms and water damaged wood are excellent examples of where you can find an established ant colony indoors. Satellite colonies are made up of active workers that are responsible for most of the carpenter ant activity inside a dwelling. They are often located inside wall voids, in attics and insulation and may even be found in hollow doors.

Identifying a carpenter ant problem is sometimes as easy as spotting foraging ants inside your home. Other indications of activity include winged carpenter ants emerging from within your home, damaged wood and the appearance of “frass”. These wood destroying ants are most active at night and that is generally the best time to find their nest. Winged carpenter ants are the reproductive members of the colony and their emergence is for the purpose of starting new colonies. This is also a sure sign that activity is already present. Carpenter ant excavating leaves behind smooth and clean tunnels or galleries in the wood they are working and is most likely to be found in wood that is damp or rotting as it is easier for their purposes. They will, however, tunnel in dry timber as well. Resembling sawdust or pencil shavings, “frass” is the wood material that these ants create when they are working in wood. Since they don’t eat wood they must push it out of their way. Piles of “frass” are often found where carpenter ants are entering a structure.

You can discourage activity by sealing or painting any exposed wood, replacing rotten wood with new materials, keeping kitchen and food areas clean and clear of food debris, fixing any areas that are experiencing water leakages, properly ventilating areas that tend to be humid and storing firewood in a dry location several feet from your home. Also keeping only what you need for a season on hand is a recommended.

Because of their ability to cause extensive damage to a structure, carpenter ant are considered a nuisance and damaging pest and problems should be addressed immediately. Though they are an extremely common pest problem occurring in Maryland they are hard to get rid of completely. That is because there are thousands of ants in a single colony and there may be several colonies inhabiting a structure and its surrounding property. Ant cups and products that are for consumer use oftentimes only kill the foraging ants and will not eliminate the entire colony. The best way to ensure that an entire home and property is free of these destructive pests is to consult a professional pest control company. Pest control technicians are trained at locating nesting sites inside and out and will implement a control plan that resolves the entire problem. They may also point out problem areas around a structure that, if left unaddressed, may attract new colonies.

Do not underestimate the serious threat carpenter ants may pose to your home. Without proper treatment and preventative measures in place you could have activity that results in severe deficiencies in your structure and costly repair bills for repair and restoration of your home.

Terro 300 Pre-Filled Liquid Ant Killer II Baits, 6-Pack

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No matter what precaution steps you take to prevent carpenter ant from invading your home, there is still a possibility that they can find a way to enter and built nest in it.

If your home is being infested, it meant that you have probably neglected some areas and it is important that you find out where is it and stop it from happening. At the same time, you should try to get rid of the pest immediately because the longer you delay, the more damages they could make.

Generally, there are two ways people used when they are looking at how to get rid of carpenter ants: they either do it themselves or they engaged the service of a pest control company.

There are a few steps to go about if you want to get rid of the giant ants yourself. First, you will need to find out where is their nest and it is important to note that there is always a possibility of more than one nest. You will need to find all of them out

After you have found and locate all the nests, you can then proceed to drill several small holes near the carpenter ants’ nest. Be extremely careful when you drill the holes as you won’t want to damage the building structure during the process. Next, pour insecticide acid into those holes and once the carpenter ants get into contact with the acid, they will be killed by it.

Besides that, you need to spray insecticide along the path used by the ants as well. This will help to reduce the possible escapes routes for the carpenter ants.

Doing it yourself way of getting rid of carpenter ants is not easy and not all can do it. If you feel that it is difficult, it is better that you engage professional services from external party.

 Michael explains how to eliminate carpenter ants and read more articles about carpenter ants control.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_H._Smith

 Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel

Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel uses a high moisture content to attract carpenter ants. Provides fast control in 3-5 days. Maxforce gel uses a delayed action kill so the bait is passed throughout the carpenter ant colony.Place carpenter ant gel bait into cracks and crevices and entrances to wall voids where ant are present.

 Customer Feedback:

“We have a house with a timber ceiling in the pacific northwest. After spotting a few large black carpenter ants, finding some frass, and hearing scratching sounds in the wall, I found this stuff recommended on the Internet. It arrived yesterday and I put some on the ceiling beams near where the frass was. Last night the ants went totally insane for it. They were crawling all over it. It was kind of unnerving, but they obviously loved this stuff. Tonight, exactly 24 hours later, there is not a single ant to be seen. Can it possibly have killed the queen & nest already? Don’t hesitate to try this if you have a big black ant problem.”

“This stuff is for Carpenter ants. Hence the “Carpenter Ant Bait Gel” in the description clearly displayed on the box. It can work for some other types of ants too but it’s mainly for Carpenters. I put some of this stuff down behind my kitchen stove last night. They went nuts for it. You can literally feed then from the tube. I made some small blobs and they all gathered around sucking it up. This morning there were none around. I’ll put some more down tonight because I doubt they’re all dead as I’ve had quite an infestation but so far I’m impressed. This stuff is awesome!”

Watch The Following Video Presentation Of How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

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• Termite colony is shown close up | Get Rid of Carpenter Ants – How to track down and eliminate carpenter ants. Home · How to get rid of Carpenter Ants · Other Places The Ants Go Marching · RSS Feed. June 12th 2010 02:06 am. Termite colony is shown close up. A termite colony is shown in this clip …
• How do I get rid of these black carpenter ants in my room? | Get … – How to track down and eliminate carpenter ants. Home · How to get rid of Carpenter Ants · Other Places The Ants Go Marching · RSS Feed. June 5th 2010 01:59 pm. How do I get rid of these black carpenter ants in my room? …
• How do I find the carpenter ants nest in my home? | Get Rid of … – How to track down and eliminate carpenter ants. Home · How to get rid of Carpenter Ants · Other Places The Ants Go Marching · RSS Feed. June 15th 2010 09:13 am. How do I find the carpenter ants nest in my home? …
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