We’ve had two carpenter ant exterminator visits in 30 days. The ants are inside a recent window installation, coming out of two upper corners inside the frame, outside the window. Ant shavings are below in the corners.
There are no trails outside.
They’re spraying exterior surfaces of the outer wall and the frame.
I think it’s time to get a different exterminator. Or just spray them every few days with Raid.
Any ideas?
The ants are inside a recent window installation, coming out of two upper corners inside the frame, outside the window. Ant shavings are below in the corners.
Pull the inside molding and get the spray inside all the gaps, especially but not only in the areas where you’ve had activity. Also consider if it is possible to use ant baits that, in theory, have the workers carry the poison back to the colony.
Thanks.
After further observation, after an exterminator sprayed them twice a month apart, now 28 days later, we’re finding a mix of active ants and dead ants on the window sil in the early morning. I checked again a little later, and there’s no activity.
So the residual insecticide is still working some, but is not reaching the nest (of course), and not diminishing the nest.
And I can’t find an unsprayed place to put bait in.
Thinking about this some more, I think the way forward is this:
Wait for the insecticide to wear off.
Put out borate bait stations (homemade) inside the house.
Consult with the exterminator for fresh ideas. They should also recheck nearby trees.
Consider having the window installer remove cladding to look for possible entry points, fumigate and seal.