Photo Album: Ant Extermination in Holmdel, NJ
Frass in the Basement
After inspecting the home from top to bottom, I found frass from the carpenter ants in the basement. Frass is the remnants of excavated wood that carpenter ants removed from their nest.
What Caused This
Turns out there was a plumbing leak that moistened the sub flooring, header boards and joists in the basement. Since carpenter ants prefer to nest in moisture damaged wood, they set up shop here.
For Treatment
Using a residual dust, I treated up into this wood in the basement.
Behind Here
Behind the insulation to reach the sill plate and header boards....
To The Bathroom & Kitchen
And behind the plumbing pipe chases in the basement and the pipe chases under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
As An Added Measure
Just to be thorough, I treated the garage door jambs and around the door and window frames around the exterior.
How The Dust Works
Once ants come in contact with the residual, they'll carry it back to their colony and share it with the other ants and the queen either through grooming or feeding one another.
Soon...
Soon the entire colony is eliminated. I advised the homeowner to repair the leak to avoid future pest problems, to which he agreed.