The following article details a carpenter ant extermination in North York. Carpenter ants were found in the kitchen, basement, and perimeter of a single-family home, damaging its structure. A full extermination and residual treatment of the property got rid of the ants quickly. If there are ants on your property, reach out to The Exterminators for an inspection and comprehensive treatment.
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Parkwoods, Toronto
Located in the eastern most part of North York, Parkwoods is a large residential neighbourhood with many recreational parks. Its dominant feature is Brookbanks Park, with its beautiful wooden ravines that are hosts to a variety of wildlife. Red foxes are often seen roaming the streets in search of their next meal. Deerlick Creek runs through the neighbourhood and empties into the Don River.
Parkwoods was the site of multiple archeology searches in the 1980s and 1990s. Digs in the area of Brookbanks Park revealed a large number of Early Iroquoian pottery (circa 1000 AD). In this case we will explain how our licensed exterminators solved a carpenter ant infestation in a home in Parkwoods, Toronto.
Inspection
We were contacted by the customer after carpenter ants were observed roaming through multiple levels of the interior of the home. One of our licensed exterminators visited the home to conduct a through inspection of both the interior and the exterior.
Inside the home we found high activity of carpenter ants in multiple rooms. Ants were present in the main floor kitchen, as well as the living room and the basement area. We also noticed that there was some water damage around the skylight in the kitchen. This is important to note because carpenter ants are attracted to moist surfaces. Damp wood is particularly desirable to them as it is easier to gnaw through as they look for a place to nest.
On the exterior of the home, we found large piles of firewood as well as various vines and plants along the walls. This creates the perfect environment for insects, such as carpenter ants, to strive as they are well hidden from predators. As they establish a colony, worker ants will then forage the area in search of food for the queen and young ants.
Treatment
Our technician began by moving the firewood away from the walls so that an insecticide could be sprayed around the perimeter of the house. We sprayed along the foundation, around window and door frames, and on the walls. This step is critical in establishing a barricade against intrusion into the home. We use a commercial insecticide with a residual property. This ensures that it adheres to various surfaces and remains for many days. When ants come in contact with this insecticide, the poison will be absorbed into lesions created by its micro crystals.
The same residual insecticide was applied to the interior of the home. Inside, we spray window and door frames as well as baseboards and any cracks or crevices in the walls. Our insecticide is extremely low in mammalian toxicity and after an evacuation period, it is safe for pets and children to be active in the treated areas.
As an additional precaution, our technician also placed bait stations which are filled with an extremely attractive gel. Once the ants take the bate, they will carry it back to the nest where they will feed it to the queen and other worker ants. This will often expedite the extermination process.
Conclusion
It is critical to contact a professional extermination company at the first sign of carpenter ants. These insects are notorious for quickly establishing a colony in areas both inside and outside homes. They will usually seek out areas that have high moisture. Inside a house, they can compromise any wooden structure such as walls, subfloors, and attic spaces. They will gnaw through the wood to created crevices where they can nest and can sometimes cause structural damage to the home.
This homeowner was quick to act and once our licensed technician identified all the problem areas of the home, we were able to treat accordingly and prevent any further spread of the insects.
Our extermination work is guaranteed for six months. If carpenter ants return to the property during that time, we will return and treat again under the terms of the warranty.
