Carpenter ants. Believe it or not, you have probably seen them before, whether in your home or out foraging in nature. They are commonly referred to as those “big black ants.” And as long as they choose to stay out there in nature and not move into your home; you will probably not think too much about them. Unless maybe you are an entomologist?
If you see several “big black ants” in your house, on a regular basis, there is a reason to be concerned. That is because carpenter ants prefer to make their home out of moist or rotting wood. Which they tunnel through but they do not actually eat. Regardless, this tunneling can cause severe damage and compromise the integrity and safety of your home. So if you happen to have had leaky faucets, a leaky roof or other moisture issues, you have prime conditions for a possible carpenter ant infestation.
If you prefer to prevent or treat carpenter ants in a more natural way, here are a few tips:
Inspect. Regularly check your home for leaky pipes, faucets, windows, roofing or other types of moisture concerns in and around your home. Wet and rotting wood from
moisture exposure, is just what carpenter ants prefer to nest in and fixing these issues right away, is the first step in prevention. Without having to take other more drastic measures.
- Clean Up. Carpenter ants eat a protein rich diet (not wood). So making sure that your home does not have a large smorgasbord to choose from, such as crumbs (counters & cabinets), and food residue (like beneath the dishwasher) and overflowing garbage barrels (inside or out) is a good start toward prevention of many pests. Including carpenter ants.
- DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Treatments:
Many DIY treatments can be found, especially on the internet. As pest management professionals, we understand the dangers of self-treatments and have seen first hand some pretty awful situations created by those who did not have the knowledge or expertise to handle an infestation properly. So why not DIY? We have found that DIY treatments only treat the symptoms, while completely ignoring the problem. It is also easy to miss ant activity without the benefit of a professional inspection. Meaning, you may kill a few ants in the area you first found them, but without killing the nest, your issues will persist.
Professional Organic Pest Control. If you have tried the DIY approaches and are not having a ton of success, it is probably time to call up the pros. But that doesn’t mean that you have to throw natural organic options out the window. Many pest control companies provide organic programs, which include natural pesticides derived from organic materials, such as plant-based oils. These treatments, combined with the expertise of a professional, who has an in-depth understanding of the biology and behavior of carpenter ants, can lead to very effective results.
If you are looking for pest control solutions that do not rely on synthetic pesticides, Modern Pest Services offers HomeCare Organic Pest Control. Modern’s highly trained professionals understand how to treat and prevent pests like ants, roaches, rodents, moths and beetles using strategically placed organic materials – guaranteed!
Modern draws on our extensive knowledge of insect life cycles and their interaction with the environment to develop a targeted plan. You can rest easy with our environmentally friendly approach. Call 1-800-323-7378 or request a FREE quote today.