The discovery of carpenter ants in a single-family residence in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville is a situation that requires a quick and methodical intervention. This wooded area of the South Shore, bordering Mont Saint-Bruno and the residential neighbourhoods of Saint-Basile-le-Grand, offers an environment particularly conducive to the establishment of colonies of Camponotus pennsylvanicus. These insects do not consume the wood, but they excavate it to dig their galleries, thus weakening the load-bearing structure of a house in a silent and progressive way. Our team of exterminators in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville intervened in this case to resolve a severe infestation detected in the frame of a bungalow built in the 1980s.
Thorough inspection and identification of the colony
The intervention began with a complete inspection of the property, both inside and out. The technician probed the basement beams, checked the floor joists and thoroughly examined the window frames and door sills. Sawdust mixed with insect segments, called frass, was found under a support beam in the crawl space, confirming the presence of an active satellite nest. Outside, a partially decomposed tree stump at the edge of the land served as a mother nest. The main gallery, connected to the stump, extended under the exterior cladding to the wooden studs of the foundation. This dual presence, mother nest outdoors and satellite nest, is typical of well-established infestations and requires a two-pronged treatment.
Targeted Treatment Plan for Carpenter Ants
The plan for the extermination of carpenter ants was a combination of several complementary methods. First, a treatment by injection of slow-acting insecticidal gel was carried out in the galleries identified inside the crawl space. This type of product is transported by the workers to the queen, thus ensuring the elimination of the colony at the source. At the same time, a residual powder treatment was applied in the hollow spaces of the walls, at the junctions between the base and the wooden structure. Externally, the contaminated stump was treated by direct injection and surrounded by a liquid insecticidal barrier around the perimeter, creating a protective ring around the foundation. The owner was informed that the stump should ideally be removed to permanently eliminate the mother nest site, an essential step to avoid a recurrence in the medium term.
Prevention and sealing work
Once the active treatment was completed, our team proceeded to identify all potential entry points. Cracks in the foundation mortar, a joist joint degraded by moisture and several openings around the exterior electrical conduits were identified. Caulking of the entry points was carried out using a polyurethane sealant resistant to humidity and temperature variations specific to the Quebec climate. Gutter drains were also cleared to prevent water pooling near the foundation, a source of moisture that softens the wood and attracts carpenter ants. The firewood stored directly against the house was moved at a safe distance, in accordance with the recommendations of our extermination company Nova Extermination.
Post-treatment follow-up and recommendations
Follow-up was planned four weeks after the initial intervention. During this control visit, no new activity was detected inside the residence. A few isolated ants have been observed outside, which is normal in the weeks following a treatment, as stray individuals take time to disappear completely. The homeowner received a written report detailing the areas treated, the products used, and long-term recommendations, including the importance of keeping trees and shrubs away from the home and promptly treating any rotten or soggy wood around the periphery of the property. To consult other similar achievements, you can consult this case study in carpenter ants as well as this intervention in an anthill. This case in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville illustrates the importance of an integrated approach, combining targeted chemical treatment, structural sealing and sustainable preventive recommendations.