For the past week or so we have spotted maybe 4 - 8 red carpenter ants in our trailer. I have not seen them outside at all...could have been another campground maybe. Hubby has religiously sprayed ant spray at each campground around wheels, jacks, etc. (I really hate spraying but I hate bugs in house more).They only come out around dusk/nocturnal. We are dispatching them as soon as we seem them. I know they roam...read up on them....so they are not in one area, respond only minorly to terro (DRAT).So how do I rid myself of them? We will be home April 8th and at that time I would bomb them but for now? any suggestions? We have terro out and renew it where we see them most...but that changes often.On the ceiling, over there, over here, one dropped onto my computer, one woke hubby up dropping in on him when he slept....annoying.I know they live in wood but don't eat it and I do know we would have a heck of a time trying to find where they are coming from. I've gone out at dusk several times to see if I see them moving about outside and NOPE.

Fortunately the Florida variety aren't damaging to wood. They are just a pain. The way I got rid of them was with some Boraxo. Because they had gotten into the ceiling it was necesssary to go into the closet and make a small hole. I was then able to take a syringe and spray the boraxo into the area. It didn't take long, and they were history.:W

powderman426 wrote:Fortunately the Florida variety aren't damaging to wood. They are just a pain. The way I got rid of them was with some Boraxo. Because they had gotten into the ceiling it was necesssary to go into the closet and make a small hole. I was then able to take a syringe and spray the boraxo into the area. It didn't take long, and they were history.:WNot quite. Florida carpenter ants DO damage the wood with their nesting activities, but they do much less damage than the northern variety.They are in your camper for one of two reasons. 1. There is some wet wood. Carpenter ants seek wet or water damaged wood to establish a nest as it is easier to excavate than solid wood. 2. They are looking to establish a satellite nest. Larger colonies often do. This is one reason they are hard to find. (Multiple nests) They don't jump and fly only when the mate. They walk in trails so go outside, after dark and check everything that touches the RV and the ground including any twigs/branches. Somewhere there will be the ants walking along.Here is a link:AntsHope this helps.

ugh...we both went outside after dark with flashlights and looked last night and I looked other nights and/or morning...so far nothing on ground, nothing on unit...cannot find anything.We are pulling off skylight bubble that had water leaked about two months ago that we fixed and dried out thoroughly before putting everything back together. We are also going to remove air conditioning cover inside to see what we see. Hubby was in denial about the water part but I think he is getting it now...they need/want water! Killed about 10 last night and two roamers this a.m.We are going to Home Depot to get some nasty baits...something we can put far back in cupboards and they can take back to their nest which I REALLY, REALLY hope is not in our trailer.... thanks for your help...we will keep at it...hopefully it doesn't get worse before we get home in two weeks.

If they have wings, they could be "swarming" and reproducing. In that case, they are being attracted to the lights inside and really not a porblem.Are you stationary in the south? Termites are also starting to swarm in Florida.If no wings and you are stationary look a outside again. They have to be getting in somehow. Maybe a twig touching the RV on the roof?

Make sure they aren't running up your water hose or electric cord, TV cable, etc. Also people sometimes put stuff around their tires or jacks as they crawl up there. Could be crawling up the inside of the tires where you cannot see.Dale

Red carpenter ants in florida...ugh | Good Sam Community

Dog_Folks
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
If they have wings, they could be "swarming" and reproducing. In that case, they are being attracted to the lights inside and really not a porblem.

Are you stationary in the south? Termites are also starting to swarm in Florida.

If no wings and you are stationary look a outside again. They have to be getting in somehow. Maybe a twig touching the RV on the roof?
dcason
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
ugh...we both went outside after dark with flashlights and looked last night and I looked other nights and/or morning...so far nothing on ground, nothing on unit...cannot find anything.

We are pulling off skylight bubble that had water leaked about two months ago that we fixed and dried out thoroughly before putting everything back together. We are also going to remove air conditioning cover inside to see what we see. Hubby was in denial about the water part but I think he is getting it now...they need/want water!

Killed about 10 last night and two roamers this a.m.

We are going to Home Depot to get some nasty baits...something we can put far back in cupboards and they can take back to their nest which I REALLY, REALLY hope is not in our trailer....

thanks for your help...we will keep at it...hopefully it doesn't get worse before we get home in two weeks.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
powderman426 wrote:
Fortunately the Florida variety aren't damaging to wood. They are just a pain. The way I got rid of them was with some Boraxo. Because they had gotten into the ceiling it was necesssary to go into the closet and make a small hole. I was then able to take a syringe and spray the boraxo into the area. It didn't take long, and they were history.:W

Not quite. Florida carpenter ants DO damage the wood with their nesting activities, but they do much less damage than the northern variety.

They are in your camper for one of two reasons. 1. There is some wet wood. Carpenter ants seek wet or water damaged wood to establish a nest as it is easier to excavate than solid wood. 2. They are looking to establish a satellite nest. Larger colonies often do. This is one reason they are hard to find. (Multiple nests)

They don't jump and fly only when the mate. They walk in trails so go outside, after dark and check everything that touches the RV and the ground including any twigs/branches. Somewhere there will be the ants walking along.

Here is a link:Ants

Hope this helps.
powderman426
Explorer
Mar 25, 2014
Fortunately the Florida variety aren't damaging to wood. They are just a pain. The way I got rid of them was with some Boraxo. Because they had gotten into the ceiling it was necesssary to go into the closet and make a small hole. I was then able to take a syringe and spray the boraxo into the area. It didn't take long, and they were history.:W

Forum Discussion

Red carpenter ants in florida...ugh

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

carpenter ants

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants take out RV....

ANTS

Ants