BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?

Subject: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 04:52 PM

There are carpenter ants living in this house. We see them mostly in the kitchen (central) and a few in the west end. They appear to be after food and water, and they mostly find both in the kitchen, but they've been drowning themselves in a humidifier reservoir too and it's in the room at the west end. How does one get rid of them? Anyone got experience with this?

It's a brick house, by the way, but the garage part at the west end is built of wood. They might be there or they might be in the floor or something. It's hard to say.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: pdq
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:06 PM

You can't ever get rid of them if they are in the carpenter's union.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Alice
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:15 PM

site in Canada, Getting Rid Of Carpenter Ants

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:16 PM

Talstar

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:16 PM

A tommy gun will discourage them some, but it will never eliminate them entirely unless you can kill the queen...and there's no tellin' where she is. So I don't recommend it. I tried that method once, and you shoulda seen the place afterward....

- Chongo

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: pdq
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:18 PM

First, identify them...note "elbowed antennae":

                                                                            carpenter ant

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:22 PM

Pest Control Canada has advice:
Carpenter Ants

The article links some other articles with advice.

We had them in a couple of old ruined sheds on a little farm we had. When we put up a barn, we used a steel structure on a concrete slab. Wood used near the foundation was pre-treated, also we had some green pesticide which we painted around the base (Copper compound? Forgotten the name but no longer available to unlicensed individuals in Canada).

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:23 PM

Oh, don't worry about that....I KNOW carpenter ants when I see them, and these are most definitely carpenter ants. Yes, they do have the elbowed antennae.

I read that page, Alice. It does not look like this will be an easy campaign.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 05:26 PM

I linked the same Canadian site as Alice. I wish you success!

Brick house- solid or facing? If the latter, it will be quite a job finding the nests.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:05 PM

Check your buildings insurance.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:20 PM

Tell them they're disgustingly overweight and watch them die of anorexia.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: pdq
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 06:27 PM

Play your recent Bob Dylan recordings real loud.

As the ants leave, follow their trail back to the queen.

Apply tincture of Freddie Mercury. Done.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 07:33 PM

LOL!

Okay, I'll try it. But I haven't got Bob's Christmas album yet...

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 08:19 PM

LH,

Down here in Texas there is a fellow named Howard Garrett who is "The Dirt Doctor," and specializes in organic gardening and pest control. There are a number of things that can work, but it depends on getting access to the timber they're in or their nests, if they're at an intersection of dirt/structure, etc. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/ will get you there.

This is his most current information:

Organic control: Boric acid products indoors; plant oil products, diatomaceous earth, beneficial nematodes. Acrobat ants and odorous ants are controlled with the same techniques. Almond oil works well to repel them and is especially good for treating wood.

The rest is here: Carpenter Ants page in the Dirt Doctor library.

Personally, after you find the various population centers and the queens, I would look into spraying around the house with beneficial nematodes, and spray the actual nests with the strengths he recommends of orange oil. Diatomaceous earth in a gardeners store (he has been recommending one that comes in a bottle that you can puff into cracks and crevices or over plants, etc. It treats a lot of pests) will stick around for a while. Don't get the kind that is used for pool filters. That isn't the same and it can have some toxic impurities mixed in. Good diatomaceous earth can be used in human and animal diets, and it's okay to have a little dust of it around the house in places. No harm to other living creatures like dachshunds.

Boric acid is a great treatment if new wood is going in, just soak it and they will leave it alone. As will termites. If you have to replace damaged lumber, spray the wood before it is put in, or before the wall is finished. That'll keep them away.

Good luck!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 09:11 PM

While some may be quite certain of their ability to identify carpenter ants unambiguously, for most of us they're not common enough to be distinguished from other pests that produce similar evidences.

The step child who spent much time as a framer offered some advice on the unequivocally certain identification. The "frass" and/or sawdust found in an area is a reasonable indication that one has found places where the suspect pests congregate, but the sure-fire method of distinguishing when the pests actually are carpenter ants is that the area will be heavily littered with little tiny beer cans.

John

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 09:49 PM

LH-

We found back in the Pleistocene when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia that ants hated Eucalyptus leaves. Maybe some Eucalyptus oil would do the trick.

Alternatively, I understand that carpenter ants are quite tasty when stir-fried with rice, a bit aromatic as well. I recommend a dry unoaked chardonnay as an accompaniment.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 03 Apr 10 - 10:50 PM

I was fascinated by ants in my childhood, John, and I know carpenter ants very well. They were one of the most interesting types of ant around. I've often seen the sawdust-like debris they leave from their wood-tunneling activities and have dismantled the odd nest from time to time when removing rotten old stumps.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 03:35 AM

Funny, funny JohninKansas! I found it by accident.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 05:26 AM

Ebbie -

I figured the old-timers would be the only ones to remember the former "hidden message" (now gone) from Max a few years back.

John

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 05:48 AM

My mom planted a mint border under the kitchen window to keep the black ants out.

Some sites suggest a 1/2 and 1/2 borax and sugar or grits mix poured on or near mounds. The ants carry the borax laced sugar/grits back to queens and nymphs and this kills the colony. Don't know if it is true for carpenter ants though.

They say to put the mixture in indoor and outdoor potted plants as well.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:46 AM

"We see them mostly in the kitchen (central) and a few in the west end."

Ah, they'd be the Sloane Ranger ants, then. They look superficially similar to the carpenter ants, but they're usually more refined and are very particular about what kind of wood they have in their muesli!

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:48 AM

"beer cans"!

Now I get it.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 11:16 AM

So, if you have carpenter ants in the wooden part of the house do you think you have mason ants in the other part, the brick part?

My brother-in-law swears by Equal sweetener. When he sees ant he sprinkles a little on the ant trail and then they seem to go away. I'm not making this up...

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 12:08 PM

I used to used a stethescope to locate them.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 12:12 PM

Oh, BTW, they like access to water.. sweaty pipes such as cold water pipes and soil stacks in unheated areas, washroom walls with windows above showers (any leaky window).

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 02:02 PM

I've seen a lot of housekeeper aunts, but no carpenter aunts. Of course, Title 9 might change that.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 04:02 PM

An amazon add chasing this thread touts Hansen and Klotz, "Carpenter Ants of the United Statesa and Canada.
Looks comprehensive. A section on control, both old and new structures.
Costs $30 bucks, though.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge on the other browser
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 06:49 PM

Have you tried undercutting them with non-union immigrant worker ants? They might be Polish in the UK or wetbacks in the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:20 PM

Maybe I could hire a Red Ant colony to serve as mercenaries against these Black Carpenter Ants. Only trouble is, the Carpenter Ants are bigger and have heavier jaws, so I think the Red Ants would hesitate to take on the job. Also, I don't know what they'd want in payment.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 07:30 PM

Not being American, Ribhard Bridge, you may not know that that statement is offensive to many.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:06 PM

Undocumented ants is better. Are better.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 09:09 PM

Undocumented ants is what we got pouring over the border. We need some Raid!

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Apr 10 - 10:16 PM

BTW, 'Ribhard' is a typo. My ex's name is Richard; I do know how to spell it.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 03:40 AM

How to get rid of carpenter ants?

Let 'em join a Trade Union?

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: MAG
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 10:30 PM

The diatomaceous earth worked great to get rid of mine. One heavy app over the offending wood.

If they're inside the wall I am clueless.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:21 AM

Introduce some plumber ants into the hive and they spend all their time arguing while getting nothing built.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 02:16 AM

Get them some tools, and hope they're lazy.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Cuilionn
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 08:49 AM

Along with VirginiaTam's suggestion, I'd add plantings of wormwood (Artemisia) around the edges of your house. As the plant's common name indicates, it was used in a range of insect-control applications. It was a common practice, in Colonial America, to plant artemisia around the foundation of wooden buildings to deter or prevent insect infestation.

Pennyroyal might help too--I know it repels fleas and some other insect pests. Both plants contain bug repellant compounds. Just be aware that pennyroyal should be used with caution--I've heard it should not be handled by children or pregnant women. Artemisia can, as far as I know, be safely handled by anyone.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Becca72
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 10:22 AM

Aardvarks?

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 11:05 AM

In the end, it's the maiden aunts who will get you!

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: MAG
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:23 PM

artemisia actually can be poisonous in some circumstances.

also I've got 3 varieties planted around my yard and it does diddly on ants. (I have it just for pretty, and it suits the climate.)

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 12:29 PM

I'm now looking into acquiring some small tactical nuclear devices...

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Sawzaw
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 01:16 AM

LH: Talstar will get'em. It gets spiders ticks, any insect.

Critters only have to come in contact with it, they take it back to the nest and it wipes them all out. They do not have to eat it.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 07:29 AM

You could try Rennies or Tums but I find Bisodol is the best ant-acid...

:D (eG)

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Riginslinger
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 08:14 AM

If you end up with a crazy ant in the attick you have a problem, but...

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 04:38 PM

Talstar? Where does one get it?

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: pdq
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 05:05 PM

Talstar seems to have an LD50 of 2000 mg/kg which is rather benign.

Table salt has an LD50 of 3000 mg/kg and we eat it every day.

Talstar is made in the US By FMC (=Food Machinery) so it should be widely distributed.

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 12:05 PM

What is an LD50?

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 05:49 AM

Roughly

The LD50 is usually expressed as the mass of substance administered per unit mass of test subject, such as grams of substance per kilogram of body mass. Stating it this way allows the relative toxicity of different substances to be compared, and normalizes for the variation in the size of the animals exposed (although toxicity does not always scale simply with body mass). Typically, the LD50 of a substance is given in milligrams per kilogram of body weight. In the case of some neurotoxins such as batrachotoxin, one of the most deadly toxins known, the LD50 may be more conveniently expressed as micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg)of body mass.

The choice of 50% lethality as a benchmark avoids the potential for ambiguity of making measurements in the extremes, and reduces the amount of testing required. However, this also means that LD50 is not the lethal dose for all subjects; some may be killed by much less, while others survive doses far higher than the LD50. Measures such as 'LD1' and 'LD99' (dosage required to kill 1% or 99% respectively of the test population) are occasionally used for specific purposes.[4]

Lethal dosage often varies depending on the method of administration; for instance, many substances are less toxic when administered orally than when intravenously administered. For this reason, LD50 figures are often qualified with the mode of administration, e.g. "LD50 i.v."

More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_lethal_dose

Subject: RE: BS: How to get rid of carpenter ants?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 08:16 PM

LH-

Don't be an idiot (LD50 and Nukes). Try the eucalyptus oil. Ants hate it and it is relatively benign to other creatures.

Charley Noble