Carpenter ant question(s)

[Tom Stevens]

Hello,

We had a carpenter ant nest in the frame of one of our external doors
this spring. We were reluctant to call a pest control outfit because
we have three kids under four, the youngest being 6-mos old, and we
have already lost a child to sarcoma (cancer) that stemmed from
environmental toxins such as pesticide/herbicide.

We knew where the nest was and knew where the ants exited the house,
so we put down some bait traps composed of mostly Boron/Boric acid, so
the workers would bring it back to the nest and hopefully kill the
queen. Now, almost two weeks later, we rarely see ants exiting the
house from that location, usually we don't see any. We no longer hear
the ants in the doorframe where the nest is located (we used to hear
the crinkling cellophane sound that Carpenter ants make).

I am wondering if I should still be concerned at this point. Does the
fact that I no longer hear the nest mean it's probably gone? Or do
the ants stop making that noise after awhile? Do the ants ever move
the nest?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

-Tom

[Lar]

On 7 Jun 2004 13:45:42 -0700, ***@yahoo.com (Tom Stevens)
wrote:

:) I am wondering if I should still be concerned at this point. Does the
:) fact that I no longer hear the nest mean it's probably gone? Or do
:) the ants stop making that noise after awhile? Do the ants ever move
:) the nest?

Hard to say....more often than not you won't hear the nest in a
location...and the ants will just up and move the colony at times. I
hear people say they have had results with baits based with boric acid
but I myself have never seen it.

Lar


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!


It is said that the early bird gets the worm,
but it is the second mouse that gets the cheese.

[Ulrich Lachmuth]

Post by Tom Stevens
I am wondering if I should still be concerned at this point.

Yes.

Because: I presume when you use the term "carpenter ant" and
mention you knew the sound an active nest makes then I have to
assume we're talking about Camponotus (BIG. BLACK. approx. 1 cm)

Although you might have succeeded in eradicating the nest you
should be concerned about what they did to your doorframe:
Carpenter ants damage infested wood quite severely. A doorframe
might be a constructive element (in keeping the upper portion of
the door up), so an investigation in how much wood actually is
remaining might be worthwile.

Plus, there is a moisture issue. Carpenter ants do not attack
sound, dry wood - to be able to get into the wood it usually must
be pre-damaged by moisture (often damaged by fungal attack as
well). It might well be that the ants, after all, have been just
an indicator of a deeper problem.

Cheers, anyway,
Uli

[Lar]

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:13:26 +0200, Ulrich Lachmuth
<***@bluemail.ch> wrote:

:) Because: I presume when you use the term "carpenter ant" and
:) mention you knew the sound an active nest makes then I have to
:) assume we're talking about Camponotus (BIG. BLACK. approx. 1 cm)

It might be a good idea for Tom to try to locate a trusted firm to
talk to, and get some local info on his situation since different
parts of the country may have different ants to deal with. I'm in N
Texas and though Camponotus pennsylvanicus (the large black ant) is
not a rare ant, it isn't common. I can only think of seeing them in
two homes in 16 years, one was in water damaged wood the other was in
an attic with the nest locted between the insulation and a the
sheetrock ceiling. The common species we deal with will be Camponotus
rasilis and Camponotus sayi. (Rusty red front half with black abdomen)
and would be more surprised by not being to locate at least forgagers
on or near any home in the area.

:) Although you might have succeeded in eradicating the nest you
:) should be concerned about what they did to your doorframe:
:) Carpenter ants damage infested wood quite severely. A doorframe
:) might be a constructive element (in keeping the upper portion of
:) the door up), so an investigation in how much wood actually is
:) remaining might be worthwile.
:) Plus, there is a moisture issue. Carpenter ants do not attack
:) sound, dry wood - to be able to get into the wood it usually must
:) be pre-damaged by moisture (often damaged by fungal attack as
:) well). It might well be that the ants, after all, have been just
:) an indicator of a deeper problem.

I would say 85% ,probably more, of carp ant jobs I do (C. rasilis)
actually have nothing to do with wood let alone wet wood. And when I
find them in wood it is more of a void location in the framing that
the ants are taking advantage of, getting their moisture needs from
sprinkler systems or condensation from what storm windows may create
or air condition units. Because these species are considered "wood
destroying insects" (like their black cousin) all too often I hear
home owners paying out big bucks for eradication that probably only
consists of a 1/2 second blast of a flushing aerosal followed up by a
single puff of a hand duster. :/


Lar


Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!!


It is said that the early bird gets the worm,
but it is the second mouse that gets the cheese.

[Ulrich Lachmuth]

Post by Lar
I would say 85% ,probably more, of carp ant jobs I do (C. rasilis)
actually have nothing to do with wood let alone wet wood. And when I
find them in wood it is more of a void location in the framing that
the ants are taking advantage of, getting their moisture needs from
sprinkler systems or condensation from what storm windows may create
or air condition units.

OK, my experience is limited to European species - here (Germany
and Switzerland) I've never seen Camponotus (herculaneus)
anywhere else than in moist wood.
The reason for this is that they tend to attack hardwood
exclusively (never resinous wood), "attack" means hollow out the
sapwood to make room for their nests. The moisture damage
prepares their chance to enter, they do not necessarily need THIS
moisture for theri water needs. They do need, however, some of
the funghi growing inside moist wood.

Cheers, Uli