how do i get rid of carpenter ants?

Question

big,black ants that show up every now and then .

Answer 1

Get a pet armadillo. They love ants.

Answer 2

We have a hunting cabin in the woods and this past summer we went there for the wk end finding carpenter ants had been in the structure,only because they desire to eat wood that has been damp or still remains damp.....when we inquired thru our local pest officer we were told to check for roof leaks or any part of the wood structure that may have become damp by means of a rain or water plumbing leak that caused the interior wood to become damp.....we found a small roof leak that entered the interior wall...we got the leak repaired,sprinkled some carpenter ant poison in the wall and area that we purchased at home depot and have not seen any ants after that...a worthy 6 dollar investment !!

Answer 3

Vinegar has been suggested as a potent ant repellent, not because it actually repels the ants but because it messes with their sense of smell. Vinegar's strong smell, along with the acids present in it, will disolve and dissolute the scent trails that ants use to communicate with one another, but are also potent enough to keep ants from going anywhere near it.

Just throw some Vinegar in a spray bottle and douse those areas where the ants seem to following one another. Repeat the process a number of times and you'll start to see less ants intruding near the areas you've treated.
Bleach is suggested to be a good natural ant repellent, used in the same way vinegar is--as a means of reducing odors that attract ants and as a way of disrupting an ant's sense of smell. Not only that, but keeping things clean with bleach, washing down cupboards, countertops, sinks and ovens are always good ways to keep ants from finding things like residual sugars and other substances they like to feed on in your home.
Carpenter Ant Prevention
Homeowners should follow these simple steps to prevent carpenter ant problems:

Locate firewood piles off the ground and away from the home.
Trim trees and shrubs that brush next to the home. These can act as bridges to your home for the ants.
Correct any wood-to-earth contact, such as buried posts or wood siding in contact with mulch.
Fix any water leaks. Carpenter ants and other insects are attracted to moisture.

Answer 4

If you're like me, you don't want to spray poison all over your house. Good for you! The first thing to do is figure out what they are after, (hint: food) and get rid of the attraction. Then find the place where they get in and sprinkle some boric acid powder. From Wikipedia:

"It can be used directly in powdered form for fleas and cockroaches, or mixed with sugar or grape jelly for ants."

Much better option than more toxic insecticides IMO

Answer 5

I also have carpenter ants mostly in summer. I had tried most everything. Then I rememberd what my Mom use to use..they still sell it at places like Lowe's and Menards it's called Terro ant killer!

Answer 6

I learned that ants follow a chemical trail left by fellow ants. If you mop the areas around where you suspect they are coming in, you should be able to remove their chemicals.

Answer 7

I know this might not be the best way to do it but.. I could summarize what to do to get rid of those pesky things but to better get an answer to you.. I would prefer that you bring up this website.. copy it off and read it carefully.

http://www.killfireants.com/carpenter_ant_control.htm

Answer 8

First you gotta find out what local they are working out of. All kidding aside, any bait that is brought back to the queen to eat, is good, as the queen is dependant on the workers, which are all females.

Answer 9

ants are completely repelled by garlic cloves...