Carpenter Ant Treatment from Jersey City Exterminators

Carpenter ant infestation in a house is an indication that such house is under a severe moisture condition, they are usually found around the laundry areas and washrooms, particularly in places that have leaks. Carpenter ants drill down into the wood and sculpt it away from within creating a hollow space, and they also cut galleries into the wood to form their nests and provide passageways within their nests. Since ants generally feed on dry leaves and other bugs, it is possible for them to create their nest around plants and woodpiles that are some feet away from the house. However, they can migrate inside your house if the condition of the house favors their survivability. 

The first sign that you have a carpenter ant infestation is usually the presence of worker ants and sawdust in the house. In controlling carpenter ant infestation, it is necessary for you to  carry out a general inspection to find the nest which holds the queen, and any other nests in your home because the ants that crawl around the house are usually less than 10% of the entire ant colony!  The nests are located in the hollow area of a house such as the window sills and doors or baseboards. The easiest way to locate them is by placing sugar on the floor and trailing the ants to their nest. 

Finding the the nest and eliminating the queen will prevent the ant population from growing further. Carpenter ants are removed by applying chemical insecticide in the forms of liquid concentrates, baits, and dust. Dust is applied using a bulb duster to pump the powder from the outside into the nest. A spray insecticide kills carpenter ants but could end up making the situation worse, if not applied correctly, by spreading them to the areas where they have not been before.  Since carpenter ants love sweet and protein foods, you can use baits which are protein-based or contain honeydew. The honeydew will attract the worker ants that will take the food to the queen in their nest and this will eventually kill the rest of the colony. Bait is an ant killer that works effectively when much of it is placed at the entrances of ant nests and satellite colonies. Liquid insecticide can exterminate ants in a wall nest if you carefully drill a series of small (1/8-inch) holes and dust the area with the insecticide. You can also use aerosols like alpine aerosol to exterminate ants from cracks and crevices. Both liquid insecticide and aerosol provide a long-term residual effect.
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Ants can be removed from their nest using a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to discard the vacuum bag after use to prevent the ants from escaping back into the house. Carpenter ants can be effectively controlled by using a chemical insecticidal barrier that interferes with the nest and  possible food sources. You can as well block the worker ants by doing perimeter treatment with a non-repellent residual insecticide.
Carpenter ant infestation can be prevented by:

• Sealing gaps and openings in your house exterior especially where utility pipes and wires enter from the outside.
• Cutting tree branches and wood piles that could serve as a bridge to your house, 
• Stacking firewood away from the house and elevating it off the ground if possible.
• Correcting all moisture conditions that the ants are finding favorable.
• Ensuring your home is always clean and free of sugar drops.

It is advisable to seek professional help in combating carpenter ant infestations, as incorrect procedures may allow the colony to rebound when surviving members resume their burrowing and foraging.