Re: Pileated Woodpeckers
AtI've had first-hand experience with carpenter ants in the carriage house of
my old 1845 home and I can tell you for certain that they are black, not
brown,
and are quite large (the workers). The do have a sweet tooth and I used a
home-made mix of say a teaspoon of borax to two cups granulated sugar or
Karo syrup finely mixed and they seemed to feed on it steadily and die. I
also
used Taro and they were certainly reduced significantly, indicating that a
long term project might be effective. I haven't torn into the area above the
roof, where I first spotted them, to check if they are eliminated, so can't
say it is totally effective. I'm sure exterminators will give you another
story,
and they may be right, but I am skeptical of their motives. Good luck.
08:17 AM 04/06/2000 -0500, Betsy Mahtani wrote:
>Denise - I called Terminix and they said they would have to drill holes
>in the walls to determine exactly where they are--the house is only 3
>years old. Information I'm now getting says carpenter ants (I haven't
>examined the ones in the tree) are reddish brown--these are black, but
>Terminix says carpenter ants are the only ones that large. They also
>said their treatment wouldn't hurt the woodpeckers.
>
>Husband talked with friends who have had similar problems and wants to
>try their remedy first. The baits DID cut down drastically on the ants,
>and the location where I first noticed them now has a lot of dead ones
>and no live ones. I about have to go along with husband first, but
>we'll keep on top of it.
>
>Appreciate everyone's your suggestions, and will try more than one.
>
>Betsy
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