Termites are one of the worst nightmares for any homeowner. When they infest, they colonize very rapidly; munching on the wood that’s in their way. While termites are notorious for eating wood, damaging the home, they are also very harmful to the health of the residents inside.

Millions of dollars are spent on termite treatments and prevention. Before you spend too much on termite extermination, get your home inspected. It’s imperative to know the current status of any termite infestation. Knowing the category of the termite investigation will save additional damage that can be caused by the termites.

Although most termites are subterranean insects, meaning they are generally underground, there are also visible signs above the ground to detect their presence. In determining the current status of a termite infestation, first you need to recognize the signs. Look for termite tubes, also known as mud tubes, in and around the house. Knock on any wood structures in your home and see if you can feel any hollowness in the wood.

A termite inspection is best handled by termite inspection professionals. The basic steps involved in a professional termite inspection are as follows:

Step 1: Inspecting The Exterior

A professional termite inspector will start looking for the signs of a termite infestation on the exterior of your home. If your home does have termites roaming around, then their signs will be visible outside. He will thoroughly inspect the perimeter of the home, and also the foundation. The termite inspector will be looking for actual termites, and the termite tubes. If your home has any dead bushes or wild growth, then the inspector will ask you to remove them to keep your place free from any kind of infestation.

Step 2: Inspecting The Interior

After completing a thorough inspection of the exterior of a home, the inspector will move towards the interior. Termite inspections are more difficult inside the home; as compared to the exterior. This is because there are many more places inside the home that need to be checked. Termite tubes can be almost anywhere and everywhere; on the windows, corners, inside closets, in the kitchen cabinets and behind heavy appliances. If there is heavy infestation, then the tubes are typically found inside the walls and floor throughout the home.

Step 3: Inspect The Crawl Space & Basement

The crawl spaces and basements of homes are the favorite hiding place for termites. It would be a big mistake to avoid inspecting them. The home inspector will have the appropriate equipment needed to inspect every crawl space in the home, and will have the expertise to know if a home is even the least bit susceptible to termites.

Step 4: Inspect The Attic

If you think the attics are high above the ground and there is little chance of finding termites there then you are wrong. You will be surprised to know that many times the infestation is not found anywhere else in the home but attics. So this makes it necessary to inspect the top level of the home as much as the other parts of the home.

Conclusion

Termite inspection does not involve any treatment related to termite eradication, but it is just the survey of the home to determine the current status of infestation. This will help in knowing where there are signs of termites in your home, and how much damage has already been caused. Such inspections also help you in selling your home, as many buyers prefer to have the home thoroughly inspected before buying it.

If it is determined that a home is in deed infested with termites, professional termite control will be needed to exterminate the destructive pests.

Author Bio:

Ethen Hunt is the author of this article. He writers for New Jersey Termite Inspector and recommends his services if you are looking for Termite Inspection.

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Pest Control Links- Weekly Links Round-Up

Pest Test

The pest professionals at Bulwark Exterminating put together this fun Pest Test. Test your eyes. What is the first pest you see? Is this pest the one you fear the most? Have you ever been bitten or stung by this pest? How many pests can you find?

Carpet Beetles

The pest professionals give us some useful information about carpet beetles, including: description, control, controlling larvae, and other characteristics. More…

Mosquitoes and West Nile Virus

Yup, it’s that time of year again. All of us must endure those blood-sucking mosquitoes. Here’s a little information as to why they bite. More…

Keeping The Bugs Away: Pest Control Tips Anyone Can Use

Here are a few simple tips anyone can do to help ensure the home and property remain pest free. More…

Carpenter Bees Can Cause A Lot Of Damage! What Can You Do?

They look like small bumble bees, but these flying pests are nothing like regular bees… Especially with their destructive nesting habits. More…

Pest Of The Week: The Hobo Spider

Grayish brown in color, with dark zigzag stripes, the Hobo spider is an aggressive spider found in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Northern California, Idaho, and British Colombia). It is suggested that these spiders are so aggressive because they have such poor eyesight. They have to attack things that move, or else they would starve.

With their impressive leg span, these spiders can reach a diameter of 1 ½ inches. They build funnel shaped webs, with oval openings, near the foundation of your home; and will aggressively attack anything that disturbs its web.

Although Hobo spiders aggressively bite, their bites are not as dangerous as once believed. There are many misconceptions out there regarding the lethality of the Hobo spider; comparing it to the more dangerous Black Widow spider and Brown Recluse spider. These rumors have recently been debunked.

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Anthony Ball

If you are fond of gardening and have a tendency to follow a ‘greener’ way of life, how do you deal with those pesky bugs that enjoy your garden even more than you do? Pesticides certainly do the trick but as well as affecting some of your non-invasive garden inhabitants, they also contribute to the ever spiralling greenhouse gas issues. Short of catching each one individually, there seems to be very few reasonable alternatives. But now we have found a new ally in this war of balances, namely – the smartphone! Both iOS and Android developers have released a number of apps that have been aimed at sorting out these annoying insect intruders. This article looks at these applications and lets you know if they are the real deal or not!

Bug Off Pest Control by App Express – Free from The Apple Store

We get the ball rolling with this neat app from App Express, it is a bespoke piece of software that links the keen gardener up to ‘Bug Off Pest Control’ , a chain of stores who fight the good fight against bugs and such. On first appearances it is a very easy to use application with a lot of useful features. As well as an easy way to contact the vendor, there are many snippets of information pertaining to your garden pests. It also features a messaging system where the company will offer you free advice regarding your issues. You can also pay for your services using this app and as long as you have PayPal your transactions will be secure. If you have a worrying critter in your home, simply take a snap and email it over to the good folk at Bug Off Pest Control for an easy ID. We love this app and your bugs will certainly rue the day you ever installed it!

Ultrasonic Pest Control by DevelopmentSquared – Free from The Apple Store

This is a very clever app that can certainly back up its claims, and then some! The Ultrasonic Pest Control application uses an ultrasonic signal that automatically annoys and disperses many of those irritating pests that make our lives misery. As well as the usual insects that bug us, this device will also stop next door’s dog from barking and will send those annoying cats scurrying for sanctuary. The signal itself is of such a high frequency that it is near impossible to be picked up by human hearing. This offers a chemical and safe way to allow us to enjoy a nice quiet afternoon. You can also keep this app on standby for those night times when the mosquitoes come a-visiting. Just a few minutes of this treatment and you will soon be free of their bloodthirsty disgusting habits. The fact that this application is totally free means that it must be next on your download list. You really have no excuse the next time those varmints decide to ruin your ‘quiet time’. Just unleash this beast and get ready for the sounds of silence!

Peace 2 Noisy Varmints 0

There we have it, 2 very different apps that have the same result – zero bug tolerance!

Today’s featured writer, Kevin Ben, works for Alberta pest control services. He’s a fervent environmentalist and one of his hobbies includes gardening.

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Guest Post Published By Thomas Ballantyne

Periodic termite inspections are an important responsibility of a homeowner. However, the sensible thing to do is ward off termite damage before it happens instead of waiting until you’re left with crumbling walls and furniture. Some building codes may require pretreatment to aid in the prevention of the wood-eating insects during the construction process of new homes, and if they don’t, it should definitely be something you consider looking into. The future of your home may depend on the protection that’s placed around it from the very beginning. As your foundation is being laid, it is probably a good idea to be aware of the treatment methods used in the developmental stages and talk them over with your pest control experts and contractor to ensure that the job is done correctly. A properly pre-treated residence allows termiticides to be administered in places that can’t be reached once the structure is built and may provide a much longer and more cost-effective approach to termite resistance.

Termiticide Soil Administration

Termites make their way up to a home by traveling through tunnels they construct in the soil around it. For a soil treatment to be the most effective, it must involve several stages that last from the pouring of the foundation to landscaping and be applied with specialized tools. The termiticide chemicals should be funneled into trenches that are dug out on each side of the foundation to let the soil around the new construction become fully saturated. During slab construction, the soil should be treated before the concrete is poured to make sure it reaches all necessary areas. This will aid in creating a barrier between termites and the wood used in the supporting structures, foundations and piers of the home and most likely hinder an infestation. Continually treating the soil throughout construction as the exterior is formulated is essential in protecting each foundational element.

Baiting

Once the final grading on your new residence is complete, you have the option of choosing to have termite baits installed as an alternative to soil treatment or in conjunction with it. Baits are often used for population control of the insects and are placed in several stations around the property. They use wood to trick termites into feeding on them instead of the wood in your house, and in turn, infect them with a termiticide that will eventually reduce the colony as long as they keep feeding. Baits have to be monitored and maintained, which can also be done during regular termite inspections.

Wood Treatment

Treating exposed wood that will be used in the construction of your new home using a borate chemical solution will almost certainly preserve your wood exterior for its lifetime. Termites will be deterred from creating shelter tubes along the treated wood and won’t find them desirable enough to feed on. The chemical must be applied before installing any sheetrock or siding and should be done again to any new wood structures that are part of an expansion; otherwise your residence will just become vulnerable again.

Waiting until post construction to have a termite inspection and treatment may result in an infestation that will be much more difficult and costly to control.

Author Bio

My name is Tiffany Olson and I love to blog. I write on topics such as home improvement, pest management, health and wellness and travel. KillRoy.com is company that I’ve received advice from in the past. They specialize in pest control and termite inspection in Hayward.

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Pest Control- Your Links For The Week

Pest Control Links Round-Up

Killer Bees Swarm Killing Texas Farmer

Imagine working on a tractor, when you happen to disturb a nest of bees in an old chicken coup. Before you know it 40,000 of these bees swarm and vigorously sting you too many times to count. More…

Honey Bees – Bumble Bees – Solitary Bees

Here’s a breakdown of several different types of bees and wasps that might make your summer an unpleasant one. More…

Using Wasps For Pest Control

Here is one of the best pest control articles I’ve come across in a while. There are a lot of beneficial insects out there, and parasitic wasps happen to be one of the more intriguing ones. You can even watch a wasp attack a caterpillar. More…

Pest Control: All You Ever Wanted To Know About Slugs & Snails

Although snails and slugs look harmless enough (just kind of gross and slimy, maybe), they are actually quite destructive to domestic and commercial gardens. More…

Top 10 Pre-Summer Tips to Pest Proof Your Home

Here’s a compiled list of the Top 10 pre-summer maintenance tips to pest-proof your home from Clark Pest Control. More…

Pest Of The Week: The Pharaoh Ant (Sugar Ant)

IMG_5570 (Photo credit: Kurt Komoda)

Pharaoh ants (sugar ants) are very tiny ants, measuring only 1/16th of an inch. They are a pale yellow in appearance, with red bodies, and darker shading near the rear of the abdomen. They are common in 49 of the 50 states; the exception being Alaska. These ant pests are found almost anywhere; infesting schools, hospitals, stores, restaurants, and of course residential and commercial properties. Pharaoh ants look to build there nest near sources of water and sugary food sources. These nests can consist of just a few ants, or as many as 2,000 members.

Pharaoh ants are notorious for being a significant pest control problem, especially in areas of Las Vegas, NV. One of the reasons they are so problematic, is because they are very challenging to control. Over-the- counter contact pesticide sprays do not work for Pharaoh ants. In fact, these sprays simply make the problem worse. After being sprayed, the ants will divide themselves into smaller colonies and make more nests around your yard. Professional ant control methods are needed to exterminate these ant pests.

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Anthony Ball

Consumers and pest control operators alike value their pest control technicians.

For the consumer, a skilled and attentive technician keeps their families safe from dangerous pests like stinging scorpions, poisonous Black Widow spiders, and disease carrying cockroaches. This VALUE is immeasurable but in terms of a monetary COST; it’s about $50 a month, depending on the size of a home, location, and treatment methods.

For the pest control operator, a reliable and experienced technician creates immense value for the company. A high-quality technician retains customers through their expertise and superior customer service. This value and monetary cost is a little more challenging to calculate, but really got me thinking: How much does it cost to replace an excellent pest control technician?

What It Costs To Replace A Pest Control Technician

Determining what it costs to replace a pest control technician is a difficult task, especially since there are so many different variables. These direct cost calculations are a very rough estimate. The dollar figures used come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which estimates the average pest control tech makes $14.59 hour; and pest control manager makes about $50K a year. These are the numbers I went by.

Please note that these figures are direct costs only. There are many more indirect costs like: loss of productivity while other techs run partial routes, lost manager and supervisor productivity, and a drop of customer satisfaction due to a temporary loss of customer service or even losing their once favorite tech. These indirect costs are nearly impossible to calculate.

Want Ads. In order to replace an old technician, you need to find a new one. An online pest control technician want ad runs about $40.00.

Interview Process. Management must spend time going through applicant resumes and conducting 30 minute interviews. I estimate this to be about a half day’s work/ salary ($50K yr/ 260 work days yr/ 2 for half day = about $100). Multiply this by two, because two managers are usually present for interviews. $200.00.

HR Administrative Time. After hiring an employee, a company must get them ready for the work force. This includes, collecting records, on auto insurance, gas cards, company phone, etc. I figure this is about a half days work ($50K yr/ 260 work days yr/ 2 for half day). About $100.00.

Background Checks. Make sure your new hire is safe to send into your customer’s homes. $36.00.

Driving Records. Make sure your new hire is safe on the roads. $15.00.

Licensing. Each new technician needs to be licensed. This is about $50.00.

Uniforms. Five shirts ($30 each), uniform hat ($40), uniform jacket ($60), protective boots ($100) and individual technician manual/treatment guide ($100). This equates to $330.00. Note: some PCO’s require new technicians to purchase these.

Training. A new technician requires 2-3 weeks of paid training. This training includes working on-site while a manager or supervisor is present. Calculating the paid training ($14.59/hr for 3 weeks @ 40 hrs a week = $1750.00), plus three weeks of a manager’s or supervisor’s time/salary (Approx $1000 a week for 3 weeks = $3,000), equates to $4750.00.

Technician Overtime. Overtime that goes to technicians who are covering the vacant route also need to be factored in. If the vacant tech was working 40 hrs a week, then I figure about 40 hours of overtime for all other staffed technicians, per week ($14.59 an hr @ time and a half multiplied by 40 = $875.00). If it takes a month to hire and train a new technician, you’re looking at $3500.00 in overtime paid to other techs covering the vacant route.

Summary:

Want Ads–   $40.00
Interview Process–   $200.00
HR Administrative Time–  $100.00
Background Checks–   $36.00
Driving Records–   $15.00
Licensing–   $50.00
Uniforms–   $330.00
Training–   $4750.00
Technician Overtime-   $3500.00

Total:   $9021.00

WOW! When factoring in direct costs alone, it costs $9021 to replace a pest control technician. That’s a significant hit! If the average technician makes $30,340 per year, the financial hit is about 109 days of a technician’s pay. This doesn’t even take in to account any indirect costs of losing a technician.

The Value Of A Good Technician To The Consumer

For customers of pest control services, your home is your castle. It’s also your biggest investment. A good pest control technician protects this investment from destructive pests like termites and Carpenter ants.

A quality pest control technician also keeps your family safe from dangerous pests like stinging scorpions, poisonous Black Widow spiders, and disease carrying cockroaches.

A first-class technician will do all of this, all while being punctual. You are busy and need a technician to be on time. An excellent technician is somebody you can trust; somebody you feel comfortable letting inside your home and around your family. They make you feel safe, and not just from the bugs. On top of it all, a good technician is somebody you have rapport with; somebody you can talk to about your day.

There is immense value in having a good pest control technician.

The Value Of A Good Technician To The Employer

We already determined the cost of replacing a good technician. It’s just over $9000. The VALUE of a good technician is something completely different.

Pest control technicians are the face and image of your company. They are face-to-face with your customer daily; customers who rely heavily on first impressions. Good pest control technicians create value. They are the first ones you send to service troubled accounts. They get excellent online reviews. They have high customer retention rates. They are reliable, dependable, punctual, and keep your customers satisfied.

Not only do good pest control technicians add value to your business, they are the backbone!

What It Costs Keeping A Bad Tech Too Long

We determined that good pest control technicians are extremely valuable to both consumers and pest control operators alike. It’s also a big financial hit to replace a technician ($9021); But bad technicians are equally bad for business.

We’ve all seen it before in the business world… An employee who is unproductive, burnt out, and ready for a change. For PCO’s these employees have both direct and indirect costs associated with them as well. Low productivity, bad company morale or culture, and lost customers are some of the costs that come to mind. Sometimes pest control operators hold on to bad employees too long, because they don’t want to have to hire a new tech (with accompanying costs). As for a direct monetary number associated with these bad pest control technicians; that’s another blog post for another day. I’m guessing it’s comparable to the costs associated to losing a good technician.

What It All Means

Pest control technicians are very valuable to both the pest control operator, and to the consumer.

For pest control operators, technicians are the backbone of your business. Maximum effort must be utilized to not only hire these good technicians, but to retain them. The old saying goes, hire tough, manage easy. Do this, and retain your technicians through compensation and motivation, and you’ll be one step closer to succeeding in business.

For pest control consumers, let your technician know how much they are valued. Give them a good review on Yelp or Angie’s List. There isn’t a lot of glory in keeping you free from dangerous pest, but these excellent pest control technicians show up everyday and work hard, so you can live pest free.

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Anthony Ball

 Pest Of The Week: The Asian Cockroach

In most of the southeast United States, the Asian cockroach is commonly considered a considerable pest control problem. In highly infested areas of North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia; some 250,000 cockroaches per acre have been discovered. These cockroaches are not as common in urban areas, but can frequently be found in and around suburban and rural properties. They are excellent fliers, and are abundant outdoors.

Many homeowners confuse the Asian cockroach with the German cockroach. It is argued if these two species of cockroach are related, but there are a few many similarities. There are also a few differences between the Asian and German cockroaches. The wings of the Asian cockroach are usually longer and narrower, and they are also lighter in color than most German cockroaches.

No matter the type of cockroach that’s invading your South-Eastern property, you just don’t want any of these pests inside your home. They will eat your food and spread disease. Appropriate roach control measures must be taken to eliminate Asian cockroaches.

5 For Friday: Pest Control Link Round-Up

North Carolina Carpenter Ant Prevention

Black Carpenter ants are common ant pests in throughout much of the eastern United States; and in the Charlotte, NC area. These ants can be very destructive if left untreated, but there are a few things you can do to prevent these malevolent pests. More…

Deer Ticks And Lyme Disease In New England

Deer ticks, also referred to as blacklegged ticks, are largely responsible for the spread of Lyme disease. You New Englanders, watch out for this blood-sucking pest this spring. Here are a few preventive tips. More…

Bed Bugs Found in William Paterson University in New Jersey

Bedbugs are becoming more and more common in the dorms of Universities and Colleges across the United States. Looks like William Paterson University in New Jersey was the bedbugs’ most recent victim. More…

Freakish Football Sized Snails Invade Houston

You have to see these African land snails! They’re huge, they’re destructive, and they’re deadly! More…

Top 10 Tips for Landlords to Keep Bed Bugs Away

The bedbug battle rages on and tenants and landlords alike are looking for answers. If you are a landlord who doesn’t want their property infested with these tiny blood-suckers; read these 10 tips. More…

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Anthony Ball

Customer service is the cornerstone of any business. If your customers aren’t happy, then you don’t have any customers. Your employees should be trained on the best ways to resolve all different types of complaints or problems your customers could have. And, your employees need to know how important that customer resolution really is. In the past, one unresolved complaint could go unnoticed and not have a large effect. Now, one unresolved complaint can turn into an online rant that can reach all of your customers and potential customers.

Customers Require Resolution

When customers have problems with your company, their shopping experience, their purchase, etc., they want a resolution to it. In fact, they expect a resolution. No matter what, a customer wants to be satisfied with your company, and they will usually give you a chance to make it up to them if they aren’t satisfied right away. Without a resolution to their problem, customers will be unhappy with your company, and you could very well lose them as a customer for good. If you want to hang onto customers, you need to be able to resolve their problems.

Image via CrunchBase

Dissatisfied Customers Will Vent

It’s extremely important to resolve customers’ problems because dissatisfied customers will want to vent. When people are unhappy with the products or services they purchase, they usually don’t keep quiet about it, especially if they tried to get a resolution from the company itself and weren’t pleased with the response. Many dissatisfied customers will vent to a friend, family member, or coworker, and this alone is enough to make you lose another customer. Now, dissatisfied customers can go a step further; they can vent online, where they can share their experience with everyone and get your attention to remind you how dissatisfied they are.

Negative Reviews Matter – A Lot

It’s no secret that negative reviews can make a huge difference in the success of a company. If a restaurant has a few bad reviews on Yelp, they could go out of business, and that’s not an exaggeration. When you resolve your customers’ problems, you can catch negative reviews before they even start. At the very least, if a customer still wants to complain online, they will hopefully include the fact that your company did do something to resolve the issue. People don’t want to give their business to companies that don’t do everything they can in the way of customer service. Mistakes or issues are forgivable, as long as you address them properly.

Make sure all of your employees – even those that don’t typically interact with customers or address their complaints – know proper ways to resolve customers’ complaints. Hold regular training sessions, and be sure to monitor and assess the way your employees handle complaints. The best way to prevent negative reviews from appearing online is to make sure there is nothing negative anyone can say about the way you treat your customers or handle your business.

Joshua Reynolds is an expert reviews tracker and avid blogger.  He is currently teaching others about proper online reviews management and customer service.

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Guest Post Published By Thomas Ballantyne

Pest Control Links Round-Up: 5 For Friday

Atlanta Millipede Infestations Common

So what exactly are millipedes? Are they dangerous? Are they even considered pests? How do you get rid of them? Here’s what you need to know. More…

5 Fun Facts About Ants

Think you know all there is to know about ants? Think again! Here’s a comical view, with some amazing ant facts. Who knew ants are feminists? More…

How German Cockroaches Easily Infest Homes – And Effective Techniques To Stop Them

German cockroaches are considered one of the most challenging pest infestations to eliminate – even with professional treatment. Learn how to implement a successful prevention strategy, here.

CAUTION: Stinging and Venomous Caterpillars

The four major stinging caterpillars occurring in Florida are the puss caterpillar, saddleback caterpillar, Io moth caterpillar and hag caterpillar. These caterpillars have tiny hairs or spines that release a toxin. Contact may require hospitalization. More…

Carpenter Ants: Preventing Them Before They Become a Problem

Our pest of the week, the Carpenter ant can be quite the destructive pest. There are a few steps you can take before they become a serious problem. More…

Pest Of The Week: The Carpenter Ant

The Carpenter ant (Camponotus vicinus) makes it’s nest inside wood; dead trees or stumps, wood piles, rotten home structures, and old cracking furniture to be exact. It because of this, many home owners confuse the Carpenter ant for the termite.

Carpenter ants have black bodies, with a dark red thorax. Their abdomen is covered with a fine hair that forms a ring around the ant. They measure in length somewhere between ¼ of an inch to ½ of an inch. Note, Carpenter ants do not eat wood. They do eat food debris, like crumbs and sweets. It’s this food that foraging ants are looking for when they enter your home.

If you see sawdust piles around your home or property, you may have Carpenter ants. If this is the case, seek the services of a licensed ant control professional.

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Anthony Ball

Head of a Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) (Photo credit: Thomas Shahan)

There is much confusion out there when it comes to Carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are frequently confused with termites, because they both nest in wood. The following article is intended for pest control professionals and homeowners alike, who are in need of some answers when it comes to identifying, and treating Carpenter ants. 

Knowing a little more about these Carpenter ants can help homeowners and pest management professionals take some preventative measures to minimize damage to homes. If it’s too late, and you fear that you may have a Carpenter ant infestation, please enlist the help of a licensed ant control professional who can administer the proper insecticides. 

The 3 Most Common Types of Carpenter Ants 

Across the lower 48 states, some 14 different species of Carpenter ant can be found in all their variety. Most share similar characteristics, like nesting in wood, but there are a few slight differences in appearance, geography, and habits. Here are the three most common species that threaten US homes: 

Carpenter Ant

Simply called the Carpenter ant (Camponotus vicinus), it is found primarily in the Pacific Northwest; but is also found in California, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, and Oklahoma. These ants have a black head, red thorax, and black abdomen. Like other Carpenter ants, this ant can be a serious structural pest. 

Western Carpenter Ant 

The Western Carpenter ant (Camponotus modoc) is a foraging ant that is commonly found in the states west of the Mississippi River. They have a dull black body with reddish legs. One easy way to distinguish the Western Carpenter ant from other ant pests is that this ant has a circular ring of gold colored hairs on its abdomen. 

Black Carpenter Ant 

The Black Carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus), is the most common Carpenter ant pest in the United States. Found primarily in the Eastern United States, the ant is sometimes referred to as the Pennsylvania Carpenter ant. The Black Carpenter ant is distinguishable from other Carpenter ant species by the dull black color of the head and body; as well as white-yellow hairs on the abdomen. 

Pest Control For Carpenter Ants: 5 Steps 

When it comes to eliminating Carpenter ants, it’s not as easy as spraying them with a can of over-the-counter insecticide. These ants are tremendously resilient. While you may kill a few of the surface ants, a hundred thousand more may be hiding deep inside the nest. There are five basic steps that need to be taken to successfully eliminate Carpenter ants. 

Carpenter ant damage under the front window sill (Photo credit: 123yvo)

Step 1: Inspection. The first step in controlling a Carpenter ant infestation is to thoroughly inspect the suspect property. It is best to determine the nest’s location as specifically as possible. Look for the signs of Carpenter ants, including sawdust piles around dead or rotting wood. The nest may be located by careful and patient observations of worker ants, especially between sunset and midnight during spring and summer months when carpenter ants are most active. You can increase your chances of following workers to their nest by setting out cat food that is attractive to carpenter ants. Place the food in areas where you find workers. Sometimes sound detection methods are equally as effective. Listen for the chewing of wood. Carpenter ants tend to be noisy within their nest, so listening devices may be needed to help pinpoint the exact location of the colony. 

Step 2: Identification. Once you have discovered the ants, and/or the nest, you can now determine what type of ant is infesting your property. Different species of ant may require different treatment techniques. Specimens may need to be taken for positive identification. If the ants are found nesting in wood, you almost certainly have a Carpenter ant problem. 

Step 3: Recommendation. After inspecting your property, and identifying the type of ant pest, you will need a plan of action. Multiple treatments may be necessary to completely control or eliminate a Carpenter ant colony. Sometimes, Carpenter ant nests are hidden in wall voids, ceilings, attics, or hollow doors. It is usually necessary for an ant control professional to drill small holes inside your home to apply insecticide into the nest area. Occasionally, the answer may be as simple as removing a nest that is found in some decaying wood around the property. Another common recommendation is to remove conditions that are supporting the Carpenter ants (i.e. unused wood, tree stumps, etc.) 

Carpenter ant damage (Photo credit: Dave Bonta)

Step 4: Treatment. Treat Carpenter ant nests with a residual insecticide applied either as a dust or spray. You may need to drill small holes into wall voids, window and door sills, baseboards and other areas to reach the nest or major part of the colony. Pesticide dusts are particularly effective, as ant activity tends to spread the dust throughout the colony. For colonies in wall voids, inject an insecticide dust, such as Drione or Tempo, or inject voids with Premise Foam. 

When choosing an insecticide, opt for those containing active ingredients like chlorfenapyr, fipronil, or any of the pyrethroids (permethrin, cypermethrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin). For effective perimeter treatments, apply Temprid SC, Tempo, Suspend or DeltaGard G. 

Baits with active ingredients such as hydramethylnon, fipronil, and abamectin, are labeled for Carpenter ants. The colony can be controlled successfully if foraging ants take the bait to the queen. Place Maxforce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel on foraging trails, near suspected nest locations. 

Step 5: Evaluation. The key to long-term success in controlling and eliminating Carpenter ants is to follow up and assess the effectiveness of the measures taken. Additional treatments may be necessary to ensure the ants never come back. 

Ant Control 

As previously mentioned; if you are a property owner who is battling Carpenter ants, please seek the assistance of an ant control professional before attempting to exterminate these dangerous ants. 

Related articles

• The Carpenter Ant: Insect or Alien?
• How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants
• How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Anthony Ball