Carpenter Ants

[riskmgr]

Originally Posted by Paul G.

We have a 10 month old Thor Chateau 22B. Camped two weeks ago at a Florida State Park that shall remain unnamed. Came back from visiting at about 10:00 pm and found a number of carpenter ants on the interior walls. Inspected the outside with a flashlight and found hundred of them headed up the power cord from the ground into the cord box. Borrowed a can of bug killer from a neighbor and doused them pretty well, including inside the box. Also sprayed the entire cord. Next night they were back, just not on the cord -- apparently enough got in to start setting up housekeeping. Have been battling them for two weeks now. Totally emptied the rig, set out ant bait, essential oils -- sealed everything I can find to seal. Went in after dark tonight (moved from our regular storage pad to our driveway for another thorough cleaning) and killed another 25 on the walls (all of the walls). Called and left a message for the company that treats our home to see if they do RVs... Anyone else ever have this kind of issue? How'd you beat it? We have a multi-week trip coming up the first week of June and I need to get this solved!

Yes we battle insects most everywhere. I use HotShot Ant and Roach killer that’s the most effective. They come in where there’s a space. Found a hole right behind passenger seat while building unit. Put some gorilla tape over it. Just always be on lookout. I’ll spray my tires, my cords coming in, water hose, around ground mat, everywhere possible.

[TurnerFam]

yes, anything 'touching the ground, or even 'near' the ground' gets sprayed, especially shore cords, water lines, and sewer hoses, but also tires and legs.

[hondavalk]

https://www.google.com/search?q=terr...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Always have had good luck with their products. Had carpenter ants at SB and their products got rid of them. You can also call and get advice from them.

[Rsgooch]

We went to a campground in Myrtle Beach and became infested with those tiny black ants. Some very helpful camping neighbors told us to use baby powder around the wheels and hoses and wires and such. Seems to work. TO get rid of the infestation, bought some boric acid gel from Lowes or Home Depot and they come an eat it and take it back to the nest and kills them all.

Originally Posted by Paul G.

We have a 10 month old Thor Chateau 22B. Camped two weeks ago at a Florida State Park that shall remain unnamed. Came back from visiting at about 10:00 pm and found a number of carpenter ants on the interior walls. Inspected the outside with a flashlight and found hundred of them headed up the power cord from the ground into the cord box. Borrowed a can of bug killer from a neighbor and doused them pretty well, including inside the box. Also sprayed the entire cord. Next night they were back, just not on the cord -- apparently enough got in to start setting up housekeeping. Have been battling them for two weeks now. Totally emptied the rig, set out ant bait, essential oils -- sealed everything I can find to seal. Went in after dark tonight (moved from our regular storage pad to our driveway for another thorough cleaning) and killed another 25 on the walls (all of the walls). Called and left a message for the company that treats our home to see if they do RVs... Anyone else ever have this kind of issue? How'd you beat it? We have a multi-week trip coming up the first week of June and I need to get this solved!

[Paul G.]

Definitely Florida Carpenter Ants. Confirmed by our exterminator.

[DogLovers]

A teacher I worked summers as a salesman for a pest control company for years. They sent me to school/classes/tests and field work to learn about this kind of stuff. After many years of work this is what I can tell you about Carpenter Ants. They are picky eaters and what they will eat one week they wont the next so they are hard to poison. The best way is the old school way. Spend the time observing them. Watch where they come from and go to. They will show you their nest if you just let them. Once you locate the nest spray it good with any synthetic pyrethrum. (Put the spray nozzle up against entry exit points and just flood it.) Within an hour or 2 every one of them (queen too) is dead. End of story.

[Paul G.]

Brought in the big guns after trying every home remedy mentioned and then some. Exterminator positively identified them as Florida carpenter ants, and did a thorough inside and outside spray job after we completely emptied everything from every interior and Exterior compartment of the vehicle. We have been busy with other things recently, but checked this morning and there were literally hundreds of dead ants on the floor of the interior of the vehicle. We swept them out, and I will check the interior out again after dark tonight to see if there are any remaining live bugs.

[gator]

Along with the many great solutions that have been shared, please allow me to add that the carpenter ant powder sold everywhere does work very well and quickly. Eucalyptus works extremely well. All insects and flying critters hate eucalyptus. It is also safe to spray on your skin as a repellent and is not harmful to breath! Bombing is not recommended in RV's because of propane and pilot lights. Turn off pilots and main gas valve and a bomb is no more harmful in an RV than in your home.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by gator

Turn off pilots and main gas valve and a bomb is no more harmful in an RV than in your home.

But if you leave them on...




http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1526499428

[Calico]

If Borax works for killing those carpenter ants, great, but be sure to NOT get too much on your lawn, if it gets splashed about. Boron does not dissipate from the ground... ever.

[w6lmj]

Hi, I live in Florida and camp all over the state. We routinely, about twice a year, bug bomb our RV to kill any pests that have set up housekeeping. Be sure to open all the cupboards and doors so as to help with the dispersal.

[Max]

I had this in my home. The pest control has ti use a special formula to get to the carpenter ants. They also have to find where they began which can be 100 ft away. After our past control did their thing, we had no problems.

[MinDee]

Originally Posted by Muggs

I fog the inside of the RV with bug bombs every 3 months. I spray the lower compartments and lower interior with odorless bug killer. I did this today. In morning, I will turn on vents and open windows ahead of spring cleaning. This approach has worked fine in Florida swamps.

Rarely do we find bugs in RV.

Would you mind sharing what specific products you use, both for the bug bomb and for inside the compartments?

Do you have to move all your dishes and clothes out when you bug bomb?

[MinDee]

Originally Posted by riskmgr

. I’ll spray my tires, my cords coming in, water hose, around ground mat, everywhere possible.

Do you worry about contamination of water hose with bug spray? I was hesitant to use it on the water hose for fear of handling the hose and then touching the end, over and over, every time we plug in or unplug. Maybe I am just being overly cautious. It sure sounds like we should be proactive about this.

[The Gritz Carlton]

I don't connect water line or sewer line to my MH when camping. We use the onboard water supply and I flush tanks when they get full. Occasionally I may connect water line during morning showers for the luxury of a lengthy shower but they come right back off. If I need more water, and the quality is good at the campground, I refill the onboard tank and put hose away. I connect sewer hose when needed, dump, rinse and put it away also. The more water in your holding tanks, the better dilution. There are lots of critters in the sewer systems that will crawl up and through your hose. Plus, if you leave your sewer hose hooked up and valves open, you "get solids" dropping in there with no solution to break them down. Like playing the base drum in the morning. The less things connected, the less bugs can make it in.

[Bob Denman]

After all of this talk about the "creepy-crawlies"; does anybody else feels as if they need a shower?

[The Gritz Carlton]

Is today Saturday??? Holy Crap...I musta slept too long!!

[Bob Denman]

Go back to sleep: it's only Thursday!

[abjbrtd]

Originally Posted by MinDee

Would you mind sharing what specific products you use, both for the bug bomb and for inside the compartments?

Do you have to move all your dishes and clothes out when you bug bomb?

We had our house treated for Carpenter Ants 3 times, I gave up on the pro's and did it myself.
But first have you seen this?
https://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/carp.htm#baiting

I didn't go with the bait.
I applied this to their trail into the house.
They walk in it and take it inside.

After each successful kill (no visible ants) I kept a careful watch for the next hatch.
When 1,2 or 3 would show up I would reapply.
It took 3 applications and several months, BUT I haven't seen any (and I STIIL look) in 2 years .

https://www.amazon.com/Termidor-TRTV...=Termidor+Foam

BE VERY CAREFULL this is some serious stuff !!!

[DanChateau33SW]

My first day after moving to FL, came back to the trailer from my new job to find sugar ants all over the inside. Off to Home Depot for Ortho Home Defense spray and granules. I sprayed every opening - windows and doors, storage compartments, power cord, etc. - inside and out. Sprayed the tires, jacks, power cord, everything that touched the ground. I then spread the granules around anything on the ground and any hills I found. It did the trick, but now I keep a bottle of the spray in the RV at all times.

I use the same products at home and they seem to keep the bugs out of the house. Never have had to bomb either the house or RV at this point.