CARPENTER ANTS & FIREWOOD

[ROYJ24]

I scored some free firewood As i split it I found a colony of carpenter ants :bug:
Is my other firewood & home safe? :-S

 

[begreen]

Did you kill the ants and get the queen? If so, sprinkle some borax around the pile and relax. It's probably fine.

 

[fossil]

I've come across a colony or two in Lodgepole Pine the same way. They mostly just scatter and disappear. Leave the wood exposed for a few days before you stack it. The colony should just die out. You may have an ant occasionally wander out from your woodpile, but just squish them and go about your business. They aren't going to recolonize in your stacked wood or in your house unless you have wood laying around exposed directly to wet soil...at least that's the way I understand them. Lots of information available through Google searches of carpenter ant. Rick

 

[savageactor7]

For years I've exposed thousands of carpenter ants while splitting wood but have never had any ants make it into the house. As the wood dries outdoors I think they seek greener pastures.

 

[countrybois]

For years I've exposed thousands of carpenter ants while splitting wood but have never had any ants make it into the house. As the wood dries outdoors I think they seek greener pastures.

Ditto

 

[ChipTam]

That old joke comes to mind. How can you be sure they're carpenter ants? Well, when you put them under the microscope, you look for the tiny little tool belts.

Chip

 

[Thomask9590]

Maybe they could help you stack the wood if your nice to them. They can lift 20X there weight.

 

[Jay H]

Maybe they could help you stack the wood if your nice to them. They can lift 20X there weight.

Find enough of them, then, they could probably take your house down the road

Jay

 

[sapratt]

I always keep a gallon one dish soap and water by me. When I split open a colony I give them a drink.