QUICK COURSE - Carpenter Ants

Pennsylvania Carpenter Ant

• Most common large black ant in S.E. Wisconsin
• Have multiple sizes up to ½ inch long
• Smaller ¼ inch size referred to as “minor”
• Largest worker ant called “major”
• Multiple nest locations with satellite nest up to 300 feet from main nest with queen
• Main nest with Queen, prefers higher moisture, usually in water damaged wood such as rotten logs, railroad ties, old trees, water damaged over hangs or window and door Sills. Secondary Sites can include under toilets, bath tubs, built in dishwashers and any other confined locations where humidity is allowed to build up.
• Activity between Queen Chamber and satellites can be seasonal, in cases of new or smaller nest, activity may occur for only a few weeks per season. Most external activity will occur in the evening hours approximately one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
• As colony matures, winged reproductive’s are reared in the fall and released in the mid to late spring. Only Reproductive’s, have wings and is the only time males are present in the colony
• Reproductive swarmer’s are only a sign that colony age is more than three years of age. This does not mean ants have been in structure entire time
  Most damage to structure is restricted to water damaged areas. Only in rare cases will you find carpenter ant damage in sound wood

 Prevention of carpenter ants
The best way to control carpenter ants is to prevent their entry in the first place.

1. Keep organic mulch at least 24 inches away from structure. Avoid depths of more than 2 inches. This will only encourage more insect pest getting into structure and is bad for the health of plants and their root system.
2. Trim all trees and shrubs away from structure. Branches will create a bridge for carpenter ants to get past any protective barriers. Store fire wood away from structure.
3. Repair all water leaks as soon as possible. Delays could damage wood enough to attract ants even after leak is repaired.

HOW WE GET ‘EM

1. We will first identify all points of entry and attractive conditions and make recommendations.
2. Evaluate severity of problem and determine best plan of attack.

Typical control measures are.

1. We use delayed reaction bait on inside nests. Delayed kill allows ants to introduce sufficient amount of bait to eliminate entire indoor population of ants. Queen is usually outdoors, requiring through outdoor treatment of the structure.
2. Apply an “invisible” fence around outside of structure. Spectrum Pest Control only Uses a product that is non-repellant. Many services still use a quick kill product that will trap ants inside the Structure and only kill the ants that come in contact to the product on the outside. This will do nothing to control the entire colony, and in many cases can Stress the colony to produce more queens during “swarm” season. Only to make problem worse long after warranty has expired.

The delayed kill of our barrier will allow ants to live long enough to spread product to rest of colony.

1. Exterior barrier includes around foundation, doors and windows as well as any utility connections and other points of entry.
2. We return 2 weeks after initial to re-inspect and to treat with bait any areas with continued activity. We may also use bait outside to draw ants into barrier zone to speed up elimination of main colony.

All our carpenter ant services have a one year guarantee. *See service agreement for details.