Condominium Unit Plagued by Carpenter Ants in Tinton Falls, NJ

Challenge

This homeowner in Tinton Falls, NJ was renovating a wall in his upstairs bedroom when all of a sudden a massive amount of ants started emerging from the wall.  He stopped what he was doing and immediately called our office for help. As we started inspecting the area, we identified these pests as carpenter ants.

Carpenter ants are wood-destroying insects. They are so named because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. They range in size from ¼ to ½ inch in length and are usually black; however, they can also be red or brown. Carpenter ants are social insects that live in colonies that can exceed more than 10,000 workers. In large colonies, it is common for the parent colony to establish multiple satellite nests in nearby indoor and outdoor sites.

At times, a carpenter ant problem is first identified not because homeowners see the ants themselves, but because they notice damage to their home. During a renovation or home improvement project, a carpenter ant infestation is revealed by hollowed out “galleries” of wood somewhere in the home. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood. Unlike termites, carpenter ants do not eat wood; rather, they excavate it for their nests. 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.

Solution

First, we removed the switch plates from the wall and injected a knockdown aerosol application. We also treated the bottom of the sheet rock with the same application. This treatment rapidly exterminates the carpenter ants.

Afterward, we treated the entire room, the two adjacent rooms (at the owners' request), and the exterior of the home with a liquid non-repellant. The carpenter ants will unknowingly come in contact with this treatment and share it with the other ants in their colony and their queen. A short while, the carpenter ants will be eliminated and the homeowner can continue his renovations.