Carpenter Ants take out RV....
That might be the headline if I do not do something now. Carpenter Ants have moved into a very large (and old) spruce tree right next to where we park our RV. This colony has already been responsible ...
Forum Discussion
Chakara wrote:
There are hundreds of species of ants in the US. My understanding is that there are few if any that will eat healthy wood. I believe it is rotten wood they eat. Now that may impact a tree in it's ability to heal - have no idea.
Here in NM, what I call a carpenter ant is a HUGE ant and are fairly easy to control with various baits. They are nocturnal so I've gone out at night and found their trails. Not like a typical ant trail in that it will be one ant every 2-3 yards instead of a steady stream. Anyway, I've personally had good luck with Maxforce products - both the granuals and the "gel" types.
While the products at the hardware stores can work - I have taken to using the same stuff the pro's use. Easily purchased on the internetIt is also perfectly legal....
For these ant bait type products the risk is very low - small amounts strategically placed. For some of the other products consumers can buy I worry a bit due to general availability. The labels need to be clearly read and understood as I suspect some of them are related to the decline in the bee population that has been going on lately.
Anyway, just google "do your own own pest control" and do a bit of reading - can save you a ton of cash. I paid around $40 for an ant control "kit" recently. Last time I did this, it lasted me for about 2 years. Compared to $40/visit from the pro's.
-Chak
Not just rotten wood, healthy wood. Had a colony try to establish themselves in my floor joist of my house. Discovered them there from the fine pile of sawdust. Definitely not rotting wood. I had a friend with Orkin who gave me one of his old "puffers". Basically a small bellows with a pencil sized tip on it. With some AWESOME poison. If ants got it on themselves, it literally sucked the moisture out of them. Took the puffer and puffed in the crevices around the joist. Next day came home to a pile of large black carpenter ants on the basement floor. Worked amazingly well.
As others have said, a good ant bait spread around the area will probably do the trick. Google carpenter ant and I'm sure there are lots of cures out there for them.
