CARPENTER ANTS

[Soundguy]

There are plenty of 'homeopathic' pesticides.

Pyrethins, a crysanthum derivitave is quite potent, and the basis for synthetic 'permethrin' type pesticides.

Clove oil kills bugs as good as any spray i've seen.

soundguy

 

[inveresk]

Thanks for the heads up on the naturally derived pesticides, Soundguy. I'll check these out further so I have an option in the event that I need to take more aggressive action against the wee beasties.

 

[Kubotasrking]

You want to use poison. There are animals that are beneficial but creepy like a bat but then there are animals that are destructive and creepy like carpenter ants. They are a pest to be exterminated. Termites are on the same level as carpenter ants.

Be sure to perimeter poison your buildings at the same time or before you poison the mounds so that the fleeing ants don't take up shop in your joists.

Have you always wondered what that scratch scratch sound was that you can hear while lying in bed at night?

add the bases of your trees between the ants and the barn to the list of things to poison.

 

[shvl73]

I've seen carpenter ants in a newly opened bundle of kiln dried framing lumber. Dry as could be, yet infested just the same. They were actually in the wood. Obviously they inhabited the bundle after the kiln. I also thought they needed moisture. I've also seen them in kiln dried red cedar siding, still bundled.

 

[jinman]

Thanks for the heads up on the naturally derived pesticides, Soundguy. I'll check these out further so I have an option in the event that I need to take more aggressive action against the wee beasties.

Most natural gardeners I have heard (very limited) use a combination of three items to control ants. The three items are orange oil, compost tea, and molasses. The orange oil and the other ingredients can be bought at many farm/feed stores. It sells for about $20 per liter. Mix 1/4 of the orange oil in a gallon of water and add compost tea. Pour that directly on the mound to drench it and try to get the queen if possible. Follow with the molasses mixed about 1:5 with water.

The orange oil melts the ants exoskeleton. The compost tea is full of microscopic "bugs" and bacteria to attack the ants when their skeleton is weakened. The molasses feeds and attracts more bugs to attack the ants.

I've tried this on fire ants and it does seem to work with some success. It certainly thinned them out. The nice thing about it is that you don't sterilize the soil with pesticides and get rid of beneficial bugs too. It certainly is not inexpensive, but it might be worth experimenting with. I use pesticides, but sometimes I am not sure that's the best approach. As I mentioned, I have had some success with this natural organic method.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

So what pesticides are recommended/used by the pro's?

 

[Soundguy]

Jinman's message reminded me of another non pesticide bug control option. Mix fine ground corn meal or corn starch and boric acid powder... I know it works GREAT on roaches and small ants. Never tried it on those chainsaw totin' ants.

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

So what pesticides are recommended/used by the pro's?

Not a pro.. just do some farming.. But permethrin oil/water emulsion kills everything but the livestock on my farm... spiders, ants, roach, beetles, fly's wasps.. etc.

I use a pump up sprayer and spray around peremiter / doors, wood pile, and fence line.

1 day later you can see dead bugs laying down the line I sprayed..

Soundguy

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Invernesk,
How about a couple gallons of gasoline and a match

Now that my friend would be commonly called a volcanoe

OK, I acquiesce, this is probablly not the best course of action !

 

[dmccarty]

I can attest to the orange/citrus oil. At the old house we had a constant ant problem even with outside spraying. The wife would spray the inside garbage can with a citrus based air freshener. When the ants first showed up she sprayed them with what was handy with the freshener. Killed em quick and did not stink like most bug killers.

Later,
Dan