Remove stumps, logs and wood debris near the house. Store firewood away from the house. Keep exposed exterior wood in good condition with paint, caulking and sealer as appropriate. Chemical control Remove or treat with insecticides any carpenter ant colonies found within 100 feet of the house. Apply insecticides to the nest and nest areas.
Dusts are particularly effective for treating nest galleries.
They may be used in infested areas instead of, or in conjunction with, sprays. Spraying or dusting an infested area with residual insecticides, without locating and treating the nest, usually does not give complete control. Also, the queen and developing larvae would not be affected. The fact that individual carpenter ants can live for well over six months without feeding requires that the galleries of the nest be treated. Residual insecticides usually are preferred, but sometimes volatile or contact insecticides may also be useful to flush out and kill carpenter ants.