Carpenter ants are one of the most common pests found in homes. Not only are they an extreme annoyance, but they can cause damage to wood by hollowing it out and using it as a place to reside. To keep them from destroying your home, it's important to practice efficient control and prevention.
Here are few tips for how to get rid of carpenter ants and how to prevent them from returning.
Inspect the potential areas
The first step to controlling your carpenter ant problem is performing proper inspection. Locate the nests by checking on the following sites:
If you have inspected the possible areas and found where the carpenter ants have been residing, it's time to determine which method of control you're going to use.
Baiting - Carpenter ant baits are designed to attract the pests. The ants pick up the poisonous bait and usually share it with their colony, ultimately eliminating them. Covering voids - Indoor voids, or nests, are often found in hollow areas, such as doors or window sills. Fill the nests with foams or dusts to get rid of the problem.
Spraying - Consider using a non-repellent insecticide to get rid of the carpenter ants.
Once you've taken the measures to eliminate your carpenter ant problem, it's crucial to practice prevention to reduce the chance of gaining pests in the future. The Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky suggested following these tips for carpenter ant prevention:
Fix leaks - Correct any moisture problems, roof or plumbing leaks in your home that may attract carpenter ants in the future.
Get rid of wood - Diminish wood-to-ground contact, such as mulch touching your siding to avoid making it easier for ants to enter your home.
Cut down trees - Get rid of the tree branches or vegetation that may be touching your home. The source said these elements act as bridges for the carpenter ants to get onto your house.
Seal cracks - Seal any openings to the foundation of your home.
Store firewood far - Keep firewood far away from the foundation of your home. It may look like an appealing home for carpenter ants, which poses a greater threat on them entering your home.
You probably already know that most people are repulsed by the simple sight of cockroaches. If you are personally dealing with a cockroach infestation, the feelings of disgust are probably even more intense. Unfortunately, the cold winter weather tends to be one of the reasons this pest ends up in your home in the first place, according to Any Pest. While you may know that you don't want to share your home with cockroaches this winter, there are a number of interesting facts about this pest that you've probably never heard.
Because of the high amount of traffic and the versatility of the facilities, pests are naturally attracted to long-term care institutions. Many nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other care facilities include on-site kitchens and cafeterias as well as private rooms and common spaces. All of these places are susceptible to attracting pests because of the presence of food, water and viable habitats.
During the summer months, some people love to go camping with family and friends. Yet this fun trip can be ruined with a few unwanted visitors, most notably different types of bugs. Crawling spiders, hungry mosquitoes and buzzing flies can become annoying quickly. How can you avoid these pests when you're outdoors? Consider these tips to keep bugs out of your campsite.
Carpenter ants can chew through the strongest studs and stringers in a house as they hollow the wooden beams out for nesting. The resulting damage can weaken the home's structural support and require expensive repairs. Professional pest control workers can remove a colony of ants, but the best practice for homeowners is to learn the best ways to keep out an ant colony and prevent the problem before it begins.
As the weather cools, you'll probably see fewer pests than you did during the warmer months, but that doesn't mean they're all gone just yet. Some insects can actually come out in full force during the autumn, while others might seek refuge in your warm home. Here are some key tips to keep in mind as fall gets underway:
As the middle of summer approaches, you need to be vigilant about keeping your garden free of pests. Many insects breed during the summertime, which means they're on the lookout for great places to lay their eggs. For many bugs, that means near a source of food. In fact, some species of insects will lay their eggs inside budding vegetables and fruit so their larvae have something to eat as soon as they hatch. That's why you have to keep harmful bugs out without damaging the bugs that could help you, such as bumble bees.
You might have noticed that, with the exception of the kitchen, you find more pests in your bathroom than in the rest of your home. This is because insects and rodents see the bathroom as a convenient watering hole. Pests love leaky pipes and standing water because these offer them a hydrating oasis in the otherwise dry biome that is your house or apartment. And if your bathroom develops mold, all the better for pests, who may eat fungus or use it to lay their eggs.
The kitchen is largest gathering place for pests in a residential home. The reason is simple: pests can grab a bite to eat and take a sip of water while they're here. And when they find such a bountiful place, they will return home to their nests and report the finding - before you know it, your whole pantry is a buffet for ants! The problem could get even worse if a piece of food falls somewhere and begins to rot. Similarly, fruit and vegetables you bring into your home may be harboring unseen pests waiting to hatch.
