Posted by John Fasoldt on 4:46:17 5/22/2008 from 24.0.128.169:In reply to: Carpenter Ants in a cottage posted by Kristine on 21:11:51 5/21/2008 from 209.89.75.121:
What you describe is actually quite common. The nest, if you actually have one, may be getting their living conditions from moisture entering the area where they are. They don't need a lot, as a matter of fact, they really only need a dead air space with ACCESS to moisture - either on the outside of the inside. With that in mind, I would look more closely at your problem.
The food you have in the Tupperware containers is not something they need. They can find whatever they need in other places.
I doubt the diazinon would affect them unless you could apply it directly into their nest. There are other insecticides that would be better for this problem than diazinon - which, BTW, is not sold anymore.
A better treatment, especially when you can't find the nest, would be a treatment with Termidor/Phantom, which can often eliminate ants without knowing the exact location of the nest. Talk to your exterminator about this treatment. You won't need a "contract," and it's a once-per-season treatment.
---John
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