Knowledgebase

Non toxic carpenter ant removal #877584

Asked July 17, 2024, 9:39 AM EDT

Yesterday we came home to find about 20 carpenter ants roaming our living room

  It was midday and they all seemed to start at the same spot in our wall and roam. I traced them outside to a ravine we live on. I believe they are looking for a new nesting spot 


I’m looking for ways to handle them without killing all the other beneficial bugs. Our local exterminator basically sprays the entire yard and house.  

How fast do I have to get rid of them?  Should I bait them while they are still searching for a home or would I be convincing them to move in?  What non toxic remedies really work?  We have planted pollinator gardens and realize that living in the woods means cohabitating with bug to some extent. But don’t want our house damaged.  

Thanks

Muskegon County Michigan

Expert Response

Carpenter ants in the home in summer does not mean they are nesting inside, and it is more likely they took advantage of a gap or crack in a screen, wall, or vent to enter. See if you can find the source and seal. Otherwise, baiting would be ok. 

Spraying the entire yard is an extreme solution to finding carpenter ants inside during the summer. If you were to find them inside in the winter months, that is more worrying. 
David Lowenstein Replied July 18, 2024, 4:19 PM EDT

Thank you for your response.  Our situation has changed a bit as we are finding more inside and several dead ants in our home - probably 50 within the last two days (usually in large groups on the floor)    Does this lead you to think we may have a nest inside?

The Question Asker Replied July 18, 2024, 5:28 PM EDT
If you are unable to find a source that they are entering from the outside, it is a possibility that a colony has decided to nest indoors. Have you noticed any sawdust piles in the vicinity of the ants? When they build nests indoors, they tend to focus on wood that has moisture damage. I would suggest looking beneath or near the faucets to see if this could be a possible location of the ants. If you happen to notice entry points of the ants, applying an insecticidal dust will help kill them. 

When carpenter ants are living inside of walls, this is a situation where it might be more practical to enlist the help of a pest control professional. 
David Lowenstein Replied July 19, 2024, 12:58 PM EDT

Loading ...