Outdoor ant infestation - Ask Extension
Our property has several very large (1-4’ diameter) ant nests in the lawn. People & animals are regularly getting bit or stung. Always have had ...
Knowledgebase
Outdoor ant infestation #870992
Asked May 31, 2024, 4:25 PM EDT
Our property has several very large (1-4’ diameter) ant nests in the lawn. People & animals are regularly getting bit or stung. Always have had some but never this bad in 10 years here. How can I reduce this population in a way that is safe for cats & dogs?
Thank you.
Emmet County Michigan
Expert Response
Carpenter ants are the largest ants that can be found outdoors. They typically nest in decomposing wood or trees and do not bite people unless their nests are disturbed.
To control carpenter ants, you'll need to find the nest entrance and treat with a dust or insecticide with an active ingredient such as cyfluthrin. If you use an aerosol insecticide, it will kill insects on contact but won't impact any ants within the nest.
You can also create a bait using a small amount of borax and mixing 4 oz. (1/4 cup) of grape jelly (or another sweet item) with 1 teaspoon of ground up dried pet food and use this as a bait to get them feeding and carrying food back to the nest. For the bait option, I would recommend leaving the pets away from that area while the bait is out.
To control carpenter ants, you'll need to find the nest entrance and treat with a dust or insecticide with an active ingredient such as cyfluthrin. If you use an aerosol insecticide, it will kill insects on contact but won't impact any ants within the nest.
You can also create a bait using a small amount of borax and mixing 4 oz. (1/4 cup) of grape jelly (or another sweet item) with 1 teaspoon of ground up dried pet food and use this as a bait to get them feeding and carrying food back to the nest. For the bait option, I would recommend leaving the pets away from that area while the bait is out.
