Before applying any insecticides, it is important to inspect and prepare the treatment area. Practice good sanitation by eliminating food and water sources that may compete with the baits you are about to apply. Also, find ways to seal up and eliminate access points into the structure. These steps will help not only to treat an existing infestation but also to prevent future problems. Once you have identified the hot spots where ants are entering or trailing indoors, you are ready to use the products in your Indoor Carpenter Ant Kit.

If you need to treat carpenter ants outdoors, you have several different options for treatments. See our Carpenter Ant Treatment Article for more details and product recommendations.

How to Apply the Indoor/Outdoor Carpenter Ant Kit

INTERIOR APPLICATION:

STEP 1 - BAIT - Bait Plate Stations, Advance Carpenter Ant Granular Bait, Advion Ant Bait Gel

*Handle bait stations with clean, dry hands or wear gloves. Avoid handling bait with bare hands as this may make baits less attractive to the ants.

*Your kit includes a set of 12 bait station bases, 12 lids, and 12 glue dots. Pull apart the stacks to separate the components. Each base is a tray with two ridged channels so that you can use two different baits in each bait plate station.

*To apply the Advance Carpenter Ant Granular Bait, first unscrew the top to remove the seal under the cap. Then flip open the “spoon” side of the cap and use a dedicated or disposable tool such as a plastic spoon to scoop a small amount of the bait granules into each station. Use 0.5 oz. (1 Tablespoon) of bait in one side only of each bait plate station you plan to set out. (Keep the other channel empty for the gel bait.)

*Be sure to store bait in a cool, dry place with the lid securely closed.

*Advance Carpenter Ant Granular Bait can be applied outdoors as a broadcast, perimeter, or colony treatment. Apply when the ground is dry and rain is not expected for at least 24 hours. See the product label for complete outdoor application instructions.

*To apply the Advion Ant Bait Gel, first gently unscrew the solid blue tip of the tube you would like to use. Replace this tip with one of the clear, reusable tips included with your kit. Use either a bait gun or the included plastic plunger to gently expel the gel from the tube, similar to using a syringe. (You may need to pull back gently on the plunger to prevent over-application.) Place a spot of bait about the size of a pea in the other side of each bait plate stations you plan to use.

*When you are done applying the Advion Ant Bait Gel, replace the clear plastic tip with the blue solid tip to store bait.

*After you have filled your bait plate station trays, snap a lid onto each one by lining up the U-shaped tab and the round tab with the corresponding parts in the tray. Gently press the edges of the lid until it is firmly snapped into the tray, being careful not to tilt the trays, which may cause granule bait to spill. You can remove the perforated tab on the lid to allow ants easier access to the baits.

*You should place bait in areas where ant activity has been noticed. It is important to avoid purposefully putting the bait in the middle of an ant trail or onto the ants themselves: this will make the ants avoid the bait and make the baiting ineffective. Instead, put the bait near ant activity or next to ant trails. Some examples of places where the bait can be placed are:

• In kitchen cabinets and on countertops.
• Behind, next to, and under the stove.
• Near sinks or drains
• Around pipes, cords, and cables that come out of the wall.
• Behind and under bathroom fixtures.
• Around the medicine cabinet and vanity.

*You should check the bait placements once a week and replenish as needed until ant activity has ceased. Be sure to continue reapplying bait as long as the ants accept it!

*Store baits in a dry, temperate area, out of direct sunlight. Baits are best used within a year of opening.

*Advance Carpenter Ant Granules can be applied outdoors as a broadcast, perimeter, or colony treatment. Apply when the ground is dry and rain is not expected for at least 24 hours. See the product label for complete outdoor application instructions.

*Bait stations may be wiped clean and washed with warm water for reuse later. Do not use fragrant cleaners, as this may make future bait applications unattractive.

STEP 2 - SPRAY - PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol

PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol is a ready-to-use spray that has a powerful active ingredient that provides both quick knockdown and lasting residual control. The non-repellent active ingredient will have effects similar to those of your ant baits. Although this may take a little more time to start killing colonies, it is a great companion and backup for when ants may not be actively foraging for food. PT Alpine also helps to keep new colonies of ants and many other pests from invading the structure.

*Always shake PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol well before use.

*PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol can be used with the broadcast spray nozzle or with the included crack and crevice straw. We recommend applying PT Alpine Aerosol with the straw to make more detailed applications. If you have trouble inserting the straw, you may need a pair of needle-nosed pliers to force the straw into the nozzle. (Be sure to do this while the tip is off the can.)

*Apply PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol to cracks and crevices where ants are likely to enter the structure or to trail, such as around window frames and door frames, where pipes and other utilities enter the structure, in corners, under appliances, and in any other spots where ants may have access into the structure. Avoid spraying areas where baits are or will be placed.

*Keep other people and pets out of the treatment area until the spray has dried.

*Do not spray PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol or other insecticides directly on top of bait placements or in the same spot where you plan to apply baits.

*PT Alpine Insecticide Aerosol may be reapplied if needed, but wait at least 7 to 10 days between applications.

EXTERIOR APPLICATION:

*Before mixing and applying Termidor SC, be sure to put on long pants, long sleeves, closed-toe shoes and gloves.  Apply on a non-windy day when no rain is expected in the forecast for at least 24 hours.

*In a clean hand pump or backpack sprayer, mix 0.8 oz of Termidor SC per 1 gallon of water in your sprayer.  Agitate well.

*Spray 1 foot up and 1 foot out all the way around the exterior perimeter foundation of your home, around all exterior doors and windows, around pipes or wires enter the structure and any other place where you have noticed ants crawling or trailing on the structure.

*Keep people and pets out of treated areas until the product has completely dried.

 You cannot spray Termidor SC out in the yard as a broadcast spray, and you must limit applications to once every 6 months.