It appears we have a problem with carpenter ants at a cottage we are working on .
I think they are coming in from the forest. Our framers don’t think that they came with the lumber.
We are finishing up the framing stage so the cottage is fully exposed but at the same time, fully accessible to be sprayed or treated.
Does anyone know of any solutions and/or treatments to stop the carpenter ants.
Thanks
Anthony
Replies
Bora Care is good
google on carpenter ants to educate yourself
Chlorodane if you can get it.
1/2 tsp in a gallon of water, dead ants all over.
I'm disappointed in you...
You mean to tell me you don't have a spare fission gamma ray source in one of your huts or something more exotic than bug spray? Not even some surplus napalm?
Hang your head junkhound... this is a sad day.
PaulB
http://www.makeabettertomorrow.com
http://www.finecontracting.com
I still got a couple of gallons of Chlorodane!
Per your death ray suggestion, you CAN fry the ants on the surface with an old microwave oven, just remove the cover, defeat the interlock, put it opening down over the anthill and turn it on!
Probably not PC, somebody from peta will be after you (people for the ethical treatment of Ants)
Now that's what I'm talking about...PaulB
http://www.makeabettertomorrow.com
http://www.finecontracting.com
Actually... I still think you're slipping. Why wouldn't you take the magnetron out, zip tie it to a pistol grip and make a real ant death ray? I dunno... I'm starting to worry about you.PaulB
http://www.makeabettertomorrow.com
http://www.finecontracting.com
Cause the oven is only 29.5 GHz, to get a good impedance couple to air or vacuum you need a horn about the opening of at least one end of the microwave cavity.
Now 200 GHz, handheld maybe. Most the weight is the power supply anyway, the 7kV xfmr in a microwave weighs about 10 #, the magnetron only a pound.
Even scroungers gotta follow know laws of physics, have not won a nobel prize yet for something different<G>
OK, I'll let this one go but let's stay on our toes, huh? You have an image to uphold...PaulB
http://www.makeabettertomorrow.com
http://www.finecontracting.com
I remember reading an article on the science page of, I think, the New York Times several years ago about how to defeat carpenter ants. It was pretty enlightening.
The author recommended laying down a barrier of diatomaceous earth - the stuff you use in a pool's filter. Apparently, that compound is composed of millions and millions of tiny pieces of earth (taken from a mine) that are razor sharp. We don't feel the sharpness because the elements are so small.
But, they are fatal to ants.
Just lay down enough so the ants must crawl across it to get to your cottage, wood supply, whatever. Don't bother trying to track down their nest - just concentrate on what's important to you.
You can buy a large bag of it at Wal-Mart for a fraction of the cost of the small container of the same powder in your hardware store that's labeled as the chemical to combat carpenter ants.
Edited 7/10/2009 9:04 pm ET by Jgriff
I've had a pest company treat for carpenter ants when I've found them on remodels. They use some sort of powder, I stay away for a couple of days, when I come back there's a black carpet of dead ants.
We talked about ants about a month ago... have a go at the search function.
The upshot was the borax-based ant baits. I use it all the time for various species, including carpenter ants. It's cheap and effective; you can even make it yourself if you've got som borax around.
The only catch is that you've got to be patient; it takes a few days. But the wait is worth it... it kills the entire colony, for good.
Scott.
Anthony,
They like moisture, so the quicker you get dried in the faster they should disappear.
In the meantime, like an earlier poster suggested, a boric acid/borax solution works. Mix some with sugar water, but not too much (maybe 15/20 percent). You don't want to kill them on the spot but give them time to take it back to the nest to kill the others. Set up several traps safe for dogs, etc. if you don't have banned chemicals like Junkhound, works great. Let em swarm and then disappear a couple days later...works great.
Good luck, Todd