Posted: 10/13/2010 12:31:39 PM EDT
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Over the years, I have had carpenter ants show up on occasion in my kitchen area, always in one spot around the sink (not under it) and the dish washer. Usually there are 5 to 10 ants at a time. Some are the really big fat ass ones, others are much smaller... but they are CARPENTER ANTS, not fire ants or sugar ants. I assume they are searching for water as it has been dry lately.
I have in the past located nests OUTSIDE about 20-30 yards from the house in the base of palm trees and dead pines. I treated the area, killed the ants, but a few months later, the ants show up again. I doubt I'm getting the Queen. A few years ago, I even located a nest in my attic inside some shotgun shell hulls I had collected... what a damn mess. Well, a few ants are back and I CAN NOT locate a nest. I have looked outside and up in my attic... nothing. Just can not find a trace of them ANYWHERE. Like I said, they show up, I spray, they go away for months, then pop back up a few ata time. ANY SUGGESTIONS? I'm going to take the dish washer out and check under the counter next. |
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They prefer damp areas, check where you might have a water leak, drains, supply lines, anywhere water might seep in, cracks in mortar joints. Chances are, you've got a good size nest in your wall. Honestly, you need to expose the framing to get them out. If you think they are in the area of the sink or dishwasher, cut away the drywall to check. Drywall is easy to fix. Permethrin is a strong, safe and relatively odor free pesticide to use, have it ready in a sprayer, either a quart size or regular pump up sprayer. Have the shop vac ready too, when you bust the nest, spray and suck them up as they flee. |
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I had the problem and called an exterminator. They said that carpenter ants can do more damage than termites.
they did a special kind of dust and it is guaranteed for a year. they drilled small holes in the door jams and the mop boards then sprayed with a small dust thing a few spritzes in each hole, then they sprayed the perimeter of the house with the same stuff. In a few days I had no more ants, and 7 months later still no ants knock on wood |
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Quoted:
They prefer damp areas, check where you might have a water leak, drains, supply lines, anywhere water might seep in, cracks in mortar joints. Chances are, you've got a good size nest in your wall. Honestly, you need to expose the framing to get them out. If you think they are in the area of the sink or dishwasher, cut away the drywall to check. Drywall is easy to fix. Permethrin is a strong, safe and relatively odor free pesticide to use, have it ready in a sprayer, either a quart size or regular pump up sprayer. Have the shop vac ready too, when you bust the nest, spray and suck them up as they flee. I have block stucco and they seem to be coming from a small hole under the cabinet where an electrical line runs in for under the counter lighting. I have seen a few come from that hole but there is nothing behind there but a block wall behind (this is the outside wall) and perhaps some wood strips if I remember from construction days where the dry-wall was attached. I would figure if there was a nest there, I would see them often, not just once every few months... correct? Just pulled the dishwasher, no sign of ants there, checked the insulation around the washer, no nest or sign of ants there either, did find one dead scorpion though. Damn washer line now has a hair-line crack and spraying water... FUCK! Off the The Home Depot tomorrow for a new line. During this, I did find two ants running around inside the washer, looked under it, no sign. The hunt continues... |
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Termador. You can get it off the web, or call a local pest company that uses it.
I had carpenter and sugar ants BAD. I spent gobs of money at Home Depot and Lowes on pesticides and actually think it made it worse. Called a bug guy who sprayed the perimeter of my home and didn't see another ant for about 7 months. |
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Quoted:
Termador. You can get it off the web, or call a local pest company that uses it. I had carpenter and sugar ants BAD. I spent gobs of money at Home Depot and Lowes on pesticides and actually think it made it worse. Called a bug guy who sprayed the perimeter of my home and didn't see another ant for about 7 months. Great stuff developed for termites, I believe, and works for years. Talstar, bifenthrin, is another good option. Get either at the DIY pest control stores. |
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SUCCESS!!!! After sitting here a few minutes ago, I decided to go look ONE MORE TIME at the base of my air conditioning unit. I used a shovel to did around it earlier today but saw nothing. I went back and used a bad-ass grubbing-hoe and took one really good deep swipe under the concrete base, near the drain pipe, and BAM!... there those little fuckers were... a shit-load of them actually. This spot is about 10' to the side, and against the same wall, as the sink/dish washer.
I believe I just found out the source nest. Tomorrow, after I fix the damn dish washer line, I will dig out some more and see if the nest goes deeper, but for now, I think I got those sum-bitches. |
| The "special powder" mentioned earlier is just boric acid. We had an infestation while I lived with my parents that swarmed into my bedroom. We found the nest under the eaves outside and below my bedroom window (second story). Took a Shop-Vac, connected the hose to the outlet side, and "primed" the hose with about two pounds of boric acid. Stuck the nozzle up into the eaves, hit the switch, and about 24 hours later all I had in my room was a bunch of /very/ dead carpenter ants. So, go to Ace Hardware and try some boric acid. Worked like a charm for me. |