Carpenter Ants

[bobm]

We have friends in Portland, Ore. that have Carpenter Ants ( red head and black bodies) all over their yard and garden. They are concerned that they will invade their house next. Any experience in how to get rid of them besides calling pest control company ( $$$$ ) that really will eliminate these pests.

 

[seedcorn]

SpectrumSC

 

[Nyboy]

Home defense spray all along house foundation Home depot carries it here.

 

[bobm]

SpectrumSC

Home defense spray all along house foundation Home depot carries it here.

Would these products do any dammage / safe to use to ornamental trees, shrubs, garden vegetable plants, etc.

 

[catjac1975]

When I find an active hill of ants too close to the house I pour a pot pf boiling water on it.

 

[seedcorn]

Spectrum SC is safe for use by restaurants. Regular ants can be killed by use of dry, corn meal. Probably won't work for carpenter ants.

Side benefit of S SC is it will also kill mosquitos that are in grass.

 

[catjac1975]

Spectrum SC is safe for use by restaurants. Regular ants can be killed by use of dry, corn meal. Probably won't work for carpenter ants.

Side benefit of S SC is it will also kill mosquitos that are in grass.

How does the dry cornmeal work?

 

[seedcorn]

1st, its TempoSC, not SpectrumSC-I must have been on drugs....

The corn meal is taken back to nest where it is fed. When it is ate, it swells up from the moisture and kills the ant. It's why it has to be dry corn meal. Once wet, it can't swell inside the ant.

 

[Nyboy]

I heard Borax mixed with sugar. The borax is toxic to ants they carry it back to nest with the sugar.

 

[bobm]

1st, its TempoSC, not SpectrumSC-I must have been on drugs....

The corn meal is taken back to nest where it is fed. When it is ate, it swells up from the moisture and kills the ant. It's why it has to be dry corn meal. Once wet, it can't swell inside the ant.

Thanks for the correction Seed. As for DRY cornmeal... in our area in PNW, if we would use it to bait the ants for outdoors, the cornmeal would absorb the moisture from almost daily overcast sky days, drizzle,fog, rain, , or daily heavy morning dew, so it most likely not be very effective. The weather people will forcast sun breaks ( from a few minutes to 1or 2 days and sometimes up to 3 days in a row ) now and then especially in the summer months.