Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants love wood, but not to eat. Instead, they build huge nests within boards.

They come in a variety of colors; black, red, brown, and even yellow and have wings just like termites. In fact, sometimes it’s a challenge for homeowners to distinguish between these ants and termites. Any rotting area in your wood planks or posts gives these insects an entrance to infest.

If you see piles of wood shavings near a post, you just may have a carpenter ant infestation and holes in the fencing material. Spraying the holes with an aerosol insecticide will kill surface ants, but you will need to place pesticide baits near/or inside the holes. To prevent future infestations, remove any rotting wood and replace with new slats or posts.

How to Get Rid of Wood Destroying Insects

Homeowners can try to treat fence posts with insecticides and/or creosote (a compound made from the distillation of coal tar). An insecticide, such as Bora-Carem, can be mixed and sprayed on the wood fencing to kill wood infesting insects. Monitor the situation and repeat if necessary.

The bottom line to rid wood destroying insects may be to contact a professional exterminator to analyze the problem and present options for insect extermination.