I Can Do That: Handling Carpenter Ants

Have you noticed that when you observe someone that really knows what he or she is doing, our normal reaction is “I can do that!” However, what we tend to neglect is this very simple fact: Their skill is a result of years of training and experience which gives us the false sense that anyone can do it. Whether it’s watching a celebrity chef on the Food Channel or craftsmen on DIY Network, the fact remains that training and experience is the key to why it always appears to be so easy.

This same phenomena occurs when a pest management professional services our home or business. The apparent ease with which he or she may solve a pest issue may cause us to think I can do that! This is a good time to pause and reflect on why. Years of studing biology and environmental factors along with on-going classroom training combined with the hands-on experience gained allow us to understand that pests will always do the unexpected to survive.

This brings me to the subject at hand: Endeavoring to attack those pesky large black ants (Carpenter Ants). How can you do it yourself if you don’t even know what they are? Do you know anything about their biology, social structure, behavior, the extent of the damage they can cause or, most importantly, the best approach to treat for them? The correct answer to these questions will be the key in addressing an attack of Carpenter Ants.

• A colony contains workers of several sizes; usually leading to misdiagnosis by the un-trained resulting in extensive repairs and treatments.
• A healthy colony can have as many as 50,000 workers and if conditions are right you could have several colonies within the same structure and they would be able to destroy your home in a short period of time.
• They are able to gain access to your home from various points along the perimeter of your home or roof line.

You would never think to perform the remova someone’s tonsils, a “minor” surgery, just because the surgeon makes it look so easy. Why would you think that taking on this house-destroying enemy would be any easier? “It’s just an ant,” you say.

Trust us: Let the professionals handle your Carpenter Ants. And Bed Bugs, but that’s another story for another time.