How to Get Rid of Carpenter Ants in West Palm Beach

Carpenter ants are a common problem for homeowners in Florida, especially in areas like West Palm Beach, where the warm, humid climate creates ideal conditions for these pests. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood, but they excavate wooden structures to create their nests, leading to significant damage over time.

Here’s how to get rid of Florida carpenter ants and prevent them from coming back.

Key Takeaways

• Carpenter ants can cause serious damage to homes in West Palm Beach if homeowners do not take action.
• Finding nests, sealing entry points, and removing food sources can help stop carpenter ants from invading homes.
• Using ant baits, natural remedies, and fixing moisture problems can help eliminate carpenter ants and prevent them from returning.
• Calling a pest control company is the best option if DIY methods do not work or the problem gets worse.

Step 1. Recognize the Signs of Carpenter Ant Infestations

The first step in carpenter ant control is identifying the signs of an infestation. Homeowners often mistake black carpenter ants for other ant species or even termites. However, this type of ant has large thoraxes and long antennae.

If you notice swarmers—winged reproductive ants—inside your home, it’s a sign that the carpenter ant colony has matured and may be establishing new colonies.

Other signs include sawdust-like wood shavings (frass) near baseboards, hollow-sounding wooden beams, and faint rustling sounds in wall voids or crawl spaces.

Step 2. Find Carpenter Ant Nests

Carpenter ants establish multiple nests, including parent nests and satellite nests.

The main colony is typically found in damp wood, stumps, or decaying tree branches, while satellite nests may be inside wall voids, basements, door frames, or wooden structures.

To locate a nest, follow ant trails at night using a flashlight. They are nocturnal and tend to travel between food sources and their nesting sites after dark. Check crevices, crawl spaces, and areas with high moisture, as these are prime locations for nests.

Step 3. Eliminate Food Sources

Carpenter ants don’t eat wood. They prefer sweets and proteins.

Their diet includes honeydew from aphids, plant nectar, and food scraps left inside homes. Removing these food sources makes your home less appealing to these pests.

Outdoors, controlling aphids and other sap-sucking insects can reduce honeydew, a primary food source for carpenter ants.

Step 4. Seal Entry Points

Carpenter ants enter homes through tiny cracks in baseboards, door frames, and crevices in walls. Sealing these entry points with caulk is a simple but effective DIY solution.

Indoors, check for gaps around windows, plumbing, and vents, and use caulk or weather stripping to close them off.

In the yard, trimming tree branches that touch your home can also help, as the workers use them as bridges to access your house.

Step 5. Use Ant Baits for Effective Control

The best way to eliminate a carpenter ant infestation is to use non-repellent baits. Unlike contact sprays, ant bait works by allowing workers to carry poison back to the nest, eventually wiping out the entire colony.

Choose a protein-based or sugar-based bait, depending on what the ants are foraging for at the time. Place baits along ant trails and in areas where frass or wood shavings have been found.

Avoid using bug sprays near baits, as they can make the worker ants avoid the bait entirely.

Step 6. Try DIY and Natural Remedies

For homeowners looking for DIY methods, natural options may deter carpenter ants.

A mixture of dish soap and water in a spray bottle can be applied directly to ants for immediate elimination. Sprinkling diatomaceous earth around baseboards and crawl spaces can help by dehydrating and killing those who come into contact with it.

Peppermint or tea tree essential oils mixed with water can be sprayed around entry points to repel these pests naturally.

Step 7. Address Moisture Problems

Carpenter ants prefer damp wood, so reducing moisture levels in and around your home is key.

Fix leaky pipes, roof leaks, and excess humidity in basements or crawl spaces. Ensure proper ventilation in attics and bathrooms, and keep firewood and mulch away from your home’s foundation.

When to Call a Pest Control Service

If your ant problem persists despite DIY efforts, professional pest control is the best solution. They can locate hidden nesting sites, apply professional-grade baits, and provide long-term pest management solutions.