Carpenter ants are easily recognizable in East Central Florida as large red ants. They are a concern to homeowners because they are often found in very large numbers in and around the home. They are most active at night and like most ants swarm once each year. The swarms are often the first sign a homeowner may have that a carpenter ant nest is nearby.
Unlike carpenter ants found in other parts of the country, carpenter ants in Florida will not cause damage to your home. They may be found in areas of damaged wood, but they did not cause the initial problem. They are opportunistic and may move into areas of wood previously damaged by termites or water. If someone tells you carpenter ants will eat your house down, they are probably trying to sell you an ant treatment.
Homeowners wanting to get rid of carpenter ants around their homes should not reach for the first can of insecticide they find. While these products will kill the individual ants the contact, they will do little to control the source of the problem. Spraying ant trails with these products will often make the problem worse.
Homeowners can control carpenter ants around their home in three ways:
- The first thing a homeowner should do is to inspect the exterior of their home for branches that may be touching the structure. Branches from trees or bushes create a bridge to the home that may be the perfect shortcut for ants to enter your home. Simply trimming these branches away from your home could easily solve your ant problem by forcing the ants away from your home.
- The second thing a homeowner should try is bait labeled for use on carpenter ants. These baits will be collected by the workers and taken back to the colony. The colony will feed on the bait and it will ultimately kill the queen and the colony. The disadvantage to most bait is that they can be slow to work.
- The third thing a homeowner can do to control carpenter ants is to track the individuals back to the nest and treat the nest itself with the appropriate insecticide. Since they are most active at night, the best time to track them is just after dark using a flashlight. As long as the nest is located on your property the nest can be treated and the problem solved. If the nest is located on an adjacent property, it is best to get the permission of the property owner before applying any insecticide.
If you live in east central Florida and have tried these three things and still have problems with carpenter ants, contact Universal Pest Control. We can be reached online at BugAndTermiteControl.com or by calling (386) 673-1557. We will be glad to help you.