How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

If you have been told that getting rid of carpenter ant is an easy task, then you need to believe your ears. However, let me add some twist to the tale. Eliminating carpenter ants is easier said than done!

These are one of those nasty creatures who enjoy their stay in your home, and can easily leave you in a bewildered state of mind. They have a reputation of being aggressive wood destroyers. They can do considerable amount of damage to wooden structures within a short timeframe. You would hate to see your hundred dollar foundations being weakened by some patrolling ants. This is one of the prime reasons, why you would hate their existence in your home.

If you have been on the receiving end for a long time trying everything in the books to get rid of these pests, then let me offer you some time-tested and effective measures to combat them.

Let’s face it; most people do not realize that they are not dealing with a "one man army" but a whole bunch of notorious creatures. Killing an individual ant will not contribute to the overall cause. You need to figure out the nest and then destroy the nest, in order to get rid of the whole bunch. Getting rid of the nest implies that you are dealing with the source of the problem. Trust me; you won’t go wrong with this approach.

While it’s not always easy to find out the source, little bit of observation will help over here. You will have to track where they are coming from, by observing their most preferred hangout area.

You don’t have to go wild with your detective activities. Just stick to the basics; look for the most common locations such as damp wood, bathtubs, door frames and leaks. Sometimes, you might have to chase them outdoors to figure out their location.

You can also set up a trap by using honey bait, and then follow the ants to their nests, once they fall prey to your trap. Sounds easy, isn’t it? Yes, it’s easy, unless you have to wake way past your bed time for this activity.

Go for the kill, once you find the nest. You can do this by pouring boric acid on the nest or by drilling a hole in the nest. If you can trust any chemical pesticide available in the market, then you can purchase one and spray it on the nest. Some of the pesticides do work against carpenter ants.

One of the other workable methods would be to use white gravel. As much as you hate carpenter ants, these creatures hate white gravel, as they do not prefer dry substance. They have a merry time in moist areas and having white gravel around your house can serve as a great shield to prevent the arrival of these ants. Unless you are super unlucky, you won’t see them around your house as they hate crawling through the white gravel to pave entry into the house.

Lastly, don’t go by the small stature of this creature. They are most active during spring and summer, and in these months they can create havoc in your house.