Pests We Treat Case Studies: Trees Full of Carpenter Ants in Howell, NJ

Recently, I went out on a service call for a homeowner in Howell, NJ who reported seeing a large number of ants all over his trees in the front yard. When I arrived, I began inspecting the trees and discovered a large infestation carpenter ants. 

Carpenter ants are large, wood-destroying insects that primarily nest in wood that is damaged or softened by moisture. Unlike termites, they don't eat the wood but chew through it to create galleries (nests). One way to easily spot a carpenter ant infestation is the accumulation of frass, or sawdust, that is piled up near their gallery. They have strong jaws and can inflict painful bites. 

Fortunately, the carpenter ants didn't make their way over to the house yet, but if left untreated, they will and cause extensive property damage. 

Since the carpenter ants were nesting inside the trees, I injected a residual dust product into each cavity, which will exterminate the ants almost immediately. As soon as I did that, thousands of carpenter ants started to pour out! I also treated the perimeter of each tree with a granular bait and applied a liquid residual along the foundation of the home, the door frames, and the window frames just to be thorough.

Once the carpenter ants come in contact with any of these treatments, they'll return to their nest and, unknowingly, transfer the products among one another, including their queen. This is called the "transfer effect," which ensures rapid elimination of the entire carpenter ant colonies.