Carpenter Ants
Most species of ants live outdoors but you will find some
that come into the home. Carpenter ants are the most common and
they can be very annoying. Since they reproduce quickly your
home may soon become infested by them. They are mainly black in
color and seem to be very tolerant of ant traps and poisons
that people put out to kill them.
Some of various species have wings on them as well so they
can be misidentified as other types of insects. They are often
mistaken for termites because the can be found in the wood of
your home. They also like moist areas so they tend to be in the
kitchen and the bathrooms.
In order to get rid of carpenter ants, you will need to find
out where their nests are. With hundreds of eggs being laid
each day by the queen ants, you don’t want to wait to get
started. You may want to try to get rid of them on your own.
You can leave out food for the ants and then follow their trail
back to the colony. Dabs of honey that are left out will
definitely attract their attention.
Boric acid is one of the most effective ways to kill them.
Track them back to the wood, walls, and other places in your
home that they are located at. There may be several colonies
around so don’t stop your efforts when you come across one of
them. If you are having a hard time locating the carpenter ants
or your efforts with boric acid failed you will need to call a
professional exterminator.
You can help prevent carpenter ants from getting into your
home by taking care of leaks right away. Remove dead wood from
your yard too as this can be where the carpenter ants start
out. Don’t store wood for the fireplace too close to your home.
It may be more convenient but you don’t want to be dealing with
carpenter ants. They can move from there into your home in very
little time. They often do this through cracks or where wires
run into your home. Seal these areas up as much as you can.
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