CARPENTER ANT TREATMENT        

Carpenter ants are among the most conspicuous of ants found in and around homes. All kinds of houses, regardless of age or type of construction, are vulnerable to infestation and damage by carpenter ants; very difficult to control; colonies can contain up to 3,000 workers.

In this section we will answer the following questions about carpenter ants:

1.       How do I recognize a carpenter ant?

2.       What can carpenter ants do to my home?

3.       How do carpenter ants get in?

4.       How a MacLaughlin Pest Control professional protects your home and property.

5.       Other questions about carpenter ants.

Winged Ant or Termite?

  Ants

§         Elbowed antennae.

§         Three distinct body segments with a slim “waist”.

§         Front wings longer than back ones

§         Various sizes.
Three distinct

Termites

§         Straight antennae.

§         No “waistline”.

§         Wings long and of equal length.

§         Usually only about 1/8” in length.

What can carpenter ants do to my home?

Carpenter Ants are a wood-destroying insect. The US Department of Agriculture estimates that there are over 9 billion dollars worth of homeowner damage caused by wood destroying insects each year. That's on average more damage than all fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined in the United States.

When Carpenter Ants invade a structure they hollow out galleries in the wood. The smooth clean, sculptured appearance of their nesting galleries is a characteristic of Carpenter Ants - thus their name. This is an interesting point, but these perfect galleries can diminish the structural integrity of your home.

How do carpenter ants get in to my home?

§         Carpenter Ants can enter your home while searching for food, moisture, and shelter in a variety of ways. These include:

§         Crawling up the foundation and finding an entry point.

§         Dropping from tree branches on to your roof and other areas of your house that are positioned under the trees.

§         Crossing utility wires that lead into your house.

§         Being brought in on firewood or other means.

§         Or, just walking in the front door.

Our treatment program consists of a full evaluation of your home by one of our qualified inspectors. Once our inspector has data about your home regarding construction, existing evidence of Carpenter Ants, moisture conditions, possible entry points, etc., he/she will custom tailor a treatment program for your home. This program usually consists of all or some of the following:

1.       Treating door frames and kick plates.

2.       Treating in and behind kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

3.       Treating areas where decks, patios or steps butt against the outer siding.

4.       Treating porch framing including ceilings and columns.

5.       Treating soffits.

6.       Treating the exterior.

7.       Treating beneath roof shingles and behind rain gutters.

8.       Treating the framing of garage doors.

9.       Treating pipe chases in the kitchen, baths, laundry room and basement plumbing area.

10.   Treating window frames.

11.   Treating crawl spaces.

12.   Treating inside cavities of infested trees.

13.   Treating wall voids.

14.   Treating up and under the siding around the house.

Our treatment techniques may vary according to the above method.  Our basic mission is to get materials in contact with areas that the carpenter ants colonize.  This may be done in a variety of ways.  Most often drilling small holes in the area to be treated, using special equipment to inject the material, and repairing the drill holes with unfinished wooden dowels accomplish our mission.

Other questions about carpenter ants:

Is the treatment safe?

As with any service that MacLaughlin Pest Control offers, safety is our primary concern. All products are registered for use by the EPA and have a long record of use in diverse and sensitive situations. It is however recommended to keep children and pets out of the way during treatment. All material that we use will not harm lawns, trees or shrubs.

How long does the treatment last?

MacLaughlin Pest Control guarantees its Carpenter Ant treatments for a period of time, which includes re-treatment if needed. Materials break down naturally and other uncontrollable factors may contribute to reinfestation during the warranty period.

What happens after treatment?

It does take some time for the treatment to take full-effect. The time will vary among structures, but generally 2-4 weeks.

It is important to remember that you may continue to see Carpenter Ants outside because they can be nesting in trees, woodpiles, etc. They will also travel as much as 300 feet from their nest to forage for food. This is not evidence of a reinfestation. However, if you see many Carpenter Ants in your home on a regular basis, you may have a problem and you should call for a supplementary treatment.