Termite and Wood Boring Insects - False sense of relief

Last week I was going to replace a sliding patio door and all the wood sheathering, rim sill, and wall joists where rotted. The bottom sill plate was rotted in some spots and there was a nest of carpenter ants. I removed all the old lumber and replaced it with pressure treated wood except sheathing. In addition I treated the sheathing with a rot and insect resistance spray and placed bordine power in all the wall cavities ajacent to the PT lumber I replaced and around the perimeter of the house. Since then I have not seen any C.Ants. However I live in New Hampshire where the nights are starting to drip below 60degrees, so my thinking is the ants are becoming dormate now. Is it possible I eliminated the C.ant issue or not? Is it too late in the season to put out a C.ant bait?

Frank

Frank, the bad news is they don't become dormant if they are living where it's warm. The good news is they don't become dormant if they are living where it's warm. That means you can treat now if they are in the house. I prefer borates as at this site.
http://www.ipmofalaska.homestead.com/files/carpantswinter.html

More carpenter ant info.
http://entowww.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/l-1783.html
http://www.ipmofalaska.com/antcontrol.html

Newt

So an update to my c-ant issue. two weeks ago I have to replace more structural wood rot on the other side of the house, and as I was removing some sheathing I discovered a big c-ant nest inside the fiberglass insulation. I looked closley and saw the queen ant, surrounded by smaller one. So I threw out the insulation away from the house and placed some borate powder all over the place. From what i read about c-ants is they build satelite colonies and unless you kill the queen ant a homeowner is going to have a difficult time eliminating c-ants. So is it safe to say I accomplished it or it is possible for two or more queen ant colonies to exist in one house?

Thanks
Frank

Frank, glad you found another colony and was able to get rid of them.

From what i read about c-ants is they build satelite colonies and unless you kill the queen ant a homeowner is going to have a difficult time eliminating c-ants. So is it safe to say I accomplished it or it is possible for two or more queen ant colonies to exist in one house?

It most certainly is. Your house is probably a 'McMansion' to them, and if you have the conditions they like in more then one area, they will eventually move in.

Newt

SO what your saying is its possible to have more than two c-nat colonies in one house? Lucky for me I'll be residing the house in the next 3 weeks.

Here is another question. When is the best time to call in a professional exterminator? Should I do it while the house is being resided or after its resided? I just don't want a situation where the exterminator is bumping into the general contractor. In addition, when I have the house resided, I'm going to have the contractor remove the sheathing near the sill plates and inspect for c-ants.

From my understanding an exterminator will drill small holes in the cavities of walling and spray in some powder or liquid. Which is it and is this something a home owner can do?

Sorry for all the questions.

Frank

SO what your saying is its possible to have more than two c-nat colonies in one house?

Yes, I had the same situation.

I'll be residing the house in the next 3 weeks.

Here is another question. When is the best time to call in a professional exterminator? Should I do it while the house is being resided or after its resided? ... I'm going to have the contractor remove the sheathing near the sill plates and inspect for c-ants.

The contractor may find more when they remove the old siding. The contractor would need to replace any damaged wood. I would say it's best to have an exterminator notified of what is going on so they might be able to come and do any treatment while the wood is exposed. I'm not a professional exterminator, but I would suggest you consult with one now before the work begins. You may want to contact more then one and see what they say. Get references and check them.


From my understanding an exterminator will drill small holes in the cavities of walling and spray in some powder or liquid. Which is it and is this something a home owner can do?

I don't know if this is something a homeowner can do. Maybe someone with more knowledge about this will come along here and help out.

Sorry for all the questions.

Not to worry, I just wish I could help more.

Newt