Carpenter Ants Causing Havoc to Homeowner's Tree in Hopewell, NJ

Challenge

During a routine treatment of this property in Hopewell, NJ we noticed a large amount of frass, or sawdust, at the base of one of the trees in the front yard. This is one of the signs of a carpenter ant infestation, so we took a closer look at the tree. Sure enough, moments into our inspection, we found a massive carpenter ant infestation in several voids in the tree.

Carpenter ants are wood-destroying insects and received their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood. Beyond seeing the hollowed-out galleries, homeowners may notice sawdust piles in areas where carpenter ants have built nests. These piles are usually an indicator of a severe infestation. Carpenter ants are often found in trees or tree stumps, rotting wood, firewood piles, fence posts, or other wood, particularly if it is untreated.

Solution

For treatment, we injected a residual application into the gaps and openings of the tree. Next, we applied some granular bait around the base of tree as well as throughout the landscape. Lastly, as a precaution, we treated the entire exterior of the home with a liquid non-repellent residual. The worker carpenter ants will come in contact with these applications, bring them back to their colony, and then share the treatments with their queen and the other ants. In a short amount of time, the carpenter ants will be eliminated.