Successfully manage carpenter ants by using the 3 i’s
Successful carpenter ant management comes down to “interview, identify and inspect.” Yes, those big black ants come every spring, but then they disappear! This homeowner comment is common — and should alert the technician that there is a problem with carpenter... Read more»
Carpenter ants aren’t always evil
Let’s set the record straight: Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) are not all “evil” or “bad.” They play a positive role in forested environments. Carpenter ants nest in both living and dead trees, as well as rotting logs and stumps. In... Read more»
Interior carpenter ant nests aren’t always in wood
Carpenter ants (Camponotus spp.) are important pests. In some regions, they are the primary wood-destroying insect (WDI) encountered by pest management professionals (PMPs). The textbook signs of an infestation include damaged wood and evidence of frass (wood shavings), which often... Read more»
Ants: Oral transfer serves newfound role in colony development
A new study suggests trophallaxis in the Florida carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus) plays a previously unknown role in communication: it enables communal control of colony phenotypes. Ants and other social insects such as termites use trophallaxis, or oral fluid exchange, to... Read more»
Termites vs. carpenter ants: Know your wood destroyers
Chances are you’ve experienced a customer call (or dozens) for “a termite infestation,” only to find no evidence of such pests on-site, but a lot of telltale signs of carpenter ants. It’s a fairly common mistake for the public to... Read more»
Carpenter ants use tree branch as pathway into home
“The Dark Side of a tree branch is the pathway to many abilities some consider to be … unnatural.” Allen Langley, president of H&H Pest Control Inc. in Shelby, N.C., will do whatever it takes to solve a customer’s pest... Read more»
Ask the expert: Carpenter ant, phorid fly and yellowjacket Q&A
Email your questions about insect identification and pest management technologies and techniques to Dr. Mampe. Your questions most likely will be printed and answered in one of Pest Management Professional’s upcoming Ask the Expert columns. Q: Several months ago, we... Read more»
Tips & Tricks: How Carpenter Ants Gain Access to Attics
Carpenter ants are the largest ants found in attics. Because they’re a wood-destroying organism (WDO), it’s important to find the nest quickly. Carpenter ants gain access via overhanging tree limbs or electrical service wiring. Damp, rotting wood is common near... Read more»