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carpenter ants | (Read 1925 times) |
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zcookie
Posts: 2
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July 25, 2007, 11:15:40 AM |
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Hi, this spring I started seeing carpenter ants inside my house. Any organic tips for irradication or management or perhaps living alongside them in harmony? Thanks!
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 4469
missoula montana
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July 25, 2007, 12:05:51 PM |
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I think dealing with carpenter ants is a big challenge.
DE will work on the ants you see, but the trick is that there are usually far more ants that you don't see.
I do remember that carpenter ants will make a home out of wood that has gotten wet - do you have any water damaged wood in your home?
I saw a fantastic presentation by Paul Stamets a few months ago. I swear that guy is saving the world four different ways at the same time. Anyway, part of his presentation was about how he found a fungus that ants think is the most delicious thing ever - so delicious, that they feed it to their queen. And all the ants that eat it die. Take a look at this http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/Winter06-07/fungi.pdf
The only down side is that I don't think the stuff is available for sale yet.
So! Moving on!
Do you see any sawdust piles in your house?
Do you see any rotten wood outside your house?
This is a good time to collect information and understanding. One thing to try is to put some honey on some masking tape after dark. Then wait and watch the ant take it back to the nest. If you can find the nest, and get and idea of what is going on there, that will be a big help.
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 4469
missoula montana
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July 25, 2007, 12:25:51 PM |
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Do you see the ants outside? Do you have chickens?
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zcookie
Posts: 2
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July 25, 2007, 01:57:37 PM |
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No 'sawdust' found inside. No chickens. No water damaged wood in my house .
I have not seen ants outside...
However, I strategicall but ignorantly stacked firewood up against my house and it has gotten wet from a snow over the winter - but it is not rotten. I'm not sure if moving the pile is going to be enough to get rid of the ants....
Very cool about the Staments findings - I've been trying to get into one of his courses and it looks like November I will be able to!
<thanks!>
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paul wheaton
Administrator
Posts: 4469
missoula montana
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July 25, 2007, 03:23:24 PM |
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Move that wood!
Wet wood is enough. Move it far from the house!
That might be enough. But just to be sure, make sure you apply lots of observation. Ask everyone in your house to keep an eye out for carpenter ants.
Your brain, plus knowledge, is the key to protecting your home from damage. It is possible that the ants you have seen are just coming from the wood pile, in which case there is nothing you need to worry about.
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