There are ants everywhere, from the tiny black sugar ants that find that one crumb you dropped (relatively harmless, though they can carry bacteria) to the carpenter ants that can destroy your home’s wood structures. The best way to prevent a carpenter ant infestation is to keep the ants away from your house by eliminating their food source and water.
Carpenter ants like to inhabit moist areas and can do extensive damage in homes due to the moisture they inject into the wood. They also are attracted to rotting wood caused by improperly sealed siding, window sills, or door frames.
You can prevent a carpenter ant infestation by inspecting the outside of your home for the presence of ants and their tracks. Look for small “window” holes in wood, along with piles of sawdust near the ants’ nesting areas. These marks indicate the presence of a carpenter ant nest. It is also a good idea to check your roof for any water leaks that may allow carpenter ants or other pests into your home.
Once a Carpenter Ants Removal ant nest is located, you can control it by using bait traps, which are a safe and effective option for those with children or pets in the home. You can use a nontoxic bait such as a mixture of sugar and milk or diced crickets or mealworms. Place the baits at various locations around your home after sunset, when carpenter ants are most active, and then watch for the ants to take the bait back to their nest. You should then be able to follow the ants’ trail and locate the nesting area.
Aside from bait traps, homeowners can use boric acid or diatomaceous earth to kill the ants and keep them away. Both of these products are natural, safe for kids and pets, and are available at most hardware stores.
To further prevent a carpenter ant infestation, you should remove potential nesting sites from your yard. This includes woodpiles, old stumps, discarded firewood, and unused sheds, as well as dead or dying tree limbs that are close to your home. Additionally, you should trim overhanging branches to prevent them from forming a bridge to your home.
You can also help prevent a carpenter ant invasion by keeping pesticides out of your home. Ants can be attracted to these chemicals and will take them back to their colony, which can spread the pesticide throughout your home. In addition, you should regularly clean surfaces to eliminate scent trails that ants use to navigate and travel. You can use essential oils, such as cedarwood, tea tree, lemon, and orange, on a cotton ball to wipe down surfaces to interrupt these scent trails. You can also make your own ant-deterrent spray by mixing a solution of equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and then applying it to any affected areas, such as baseboards, doors, windowsills, or countertops. Repeat this process daily or as needed.