Do you need to know how to get rid of carpenter ants in walls, trees, or attics? Try these steps: identify the area, find the nest, eliminate food sources, use baits and insecticides, seal entry points, eliminate outdoor nests, remove decaying wood, and trim vegetation!
Dealing with a carpenter ant infestation can be a frustrating experience for homeowners. These relentless pests can cause significant damage to your property if left unchecked. Say goodbye to these troublesome intruders with confidence and restore peace in your living space.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ant Infestation In 9 Steps
In a general strategy, whether you are wishing to know how to get rid of carpenter ants with wings or in regular shape, you can follow the step-by-step tips that we have gathered in the list below!
1. Identify The Infestation Area
Inspect your property to locate the areas where carpenter ants are most active. Look for ant trails, wood shavings, and small openings in walls, ceilings, or outdoor structures.
2. Locate The Nest
Find the carpenter ant nest. Follow ant trails back to their source to identify where the main colony is located. Common nesting sites include wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, and decaying wood in your yard.
3. Eliminate Food Sources
Keep your home clean and tidy to remove potential food sources for carpenter ants. Seal the food in airtight containers and promptly clean up crumbs and spills. Ants are attracted to sweet, greasy, and protein-rich foods.
4. Use Bait Stations
Place ant bait stations near the infestation sites and along ant trails. Bait stations use attractants that ants take back to their nests, effectively poisoning the colony.
5. Apply Insecticide Spray
Use a non-repellent insecticide spray designed for carpenter ants around the perimeter of your home, focusing on entry points and potential nesting areas. Non-repellent sprays are carried back to the nest by worker ants, spreading the poison throughout the colony.
6. Seal Entry Points
Close off any cracks, gaps, and openings in walls, windows, and doors that carpenter ants might use to enter your home. Repair damaged screens and gaps around pipes and utility lines.
7. Eliminate Outdoor Nests
If carpenter ants have nested in trees or outdoor structures, treat those areas with insecticide dust or spray to eliminate the nests.
8. Remove Decaying Wood
Get rid of any decaying wood or moist areas around your property, as these can attract carpenter ants looking for nesting sites. Replace damaged or water-damaged wood promptly.
9. Trim Vegetation
Trim tree branches and shrubs that come into contact with your home. Carpenter ants can use these as bridges to enter your property.
How To Get Rid Of A Carpenter Ant Nest?
The key to successful carpenter ant elimination lies in locating and eliminating their nest. Follow the ant trails and identify the nest location. Use bait stations and insecticides to kill the colony. Take care of the possible nest locations: wall voids, attics, crawl spaces, and decaying wood.
They are very common in summer, so these measures can be part of your summer home maintenance!
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants In Walls?
Carpenter ants can find their way into the walls of your home, making eradication challenging. In these cases when the infestation is severe and difficult to manage, you might need to drill small holes into the wall void and inject insecticide directly into the nest area.
Also, if you notice a concentrated group of ants in a wall void, you can use a vacuum with a long nozzle attachment or a flushing agent (like soapy water) to remove them. This will not solve the entire problem, but it can help temporarily reduce the population.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants In The Attic?
The attic serves as an attractive nesting site for carpenter ants due to its dark and secluded environment. If there is any moisture problem in the attic, such as leaks or high humidity, address it promptly.
Ants are attracted to damp environments, and eliminating the moisture source will make the attic less appealing to them.
How To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants In Trees?
Carpenter ants are not limited to the interior of your home; they can also infest nearby trees and shrubs. Take a look at the tips to remove them from trees:
- prune and trim;
- apply insecticidal barriers;
- try tree banding;
- encourage natural ant predators; and
- use beneficial nematodes.
Remember that it is essential to be cautious about the use of pesticides around trees, as they can have unintended effects on other beneficial insects and the environment.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants?
If you are wondering what is the best thing to kill carpenter ants: here it goes! The fastest way to get rid of carpenter ants is to locate their nest, use carpenter ant bait, and apply insecticidal dust or liquid insecticide around the entrance of the nest and ant trails.
Make sure to monitor and repeat treatments until the colony is eliminated.
How Much Is It To Get Rid Of Carpenter Ants?
The cost to get rid of carpenter ants with the help of a professional pest control service can range from $ 150 to $ 300 or more, depending on the severity of the infestation and the size of your property.
DIY methods may cost less, but they are primarily limited to the purchase of ant bait and insecticidal dust or sprays.
Trust homeyou’s pest control services and they will answer your doubts on how to get rid of carpenter ants in walls and any other location!
