A distribution warehouse in Delson, on the South Shore, was confronted with an unusual problem of carpenter ants in its wooden roofing structures. This logistics facility, built on the edge of a wooded area near Boucherville, used a glulam frame for its arched roof structure, an architectural design exposed to water infiltration in the event of a waterproofing problem. A punctual leak in a roof drain, undetected for several months, had created damp conditions in the main beams, favouring the establishment of a satellite nest by a colony whose mother nest had been identified in the tree belt at the edge of the property. Our team at Nova Extermination, certified exterminator for the South Shore region, was mandated to evaluate and treat this infestation in an industrial environment.
Diagnosis in an industrial environment and access at height
Inspecting a roof structure at height requires proper working at heights equipment and rigorous safety planning. Our technician, equipped with a harness and working from a basket provided by the customer, was able to directly inspect the wooden beams of the framework at a height of nine metres. Active galleries were identified in two main beams in the area adjacent to the former location of the roof leak. The frass falling on the shelves below had been the first warning sign noticed by the operations manager. Outside, a ground inspection located the mother nest in a partially dead tree on the edge of the property, connected to the warehouse by a network of galleries running along the concrete underbody and the metal structure of the dock doors. The extermination of carpenter ants in an industrial environment requires a constant adaptation of methods to the constraints of the environment.
Treatment in active industrial environments
With the warehouse in continuous operation, processing had to be planned to minimize any disruption to operations. The affected wooden beams were treated by injecting residual powder insecticide directly into the identified galleries, using discreet perforations that were sealed after treatment to maintain the aesthetic and functional integrity of the beams. No spraying was carried out in the goods storage areas. Outside, the treatment included direct injection into the contaminated tree, application of a liquid insecticide barrier over a three-metre width around the perimeter of the adjacent wooded area and sealing of the openings identified at the foot of the wall. A seasonal outdoor insect treatment has been incorporated into the warehouse’s preventative maintenance program for the next two years. This approach is similar to the one documented in this realization of carpenter ants in an industrial context.
Recommended Structural Repairs and Prevention
As the ant damage on the main beams was localized but real, a detailed report was given to the facility manager with supporting photos, for transmission to the structural engineer in charge of the building. This type of documentation is essential for the evaluation of repair or replacement work on affected wood components. Specific preventive measures have been recommended: annual inspection of the roof’s waterproofing, gradual elimination of dead trees at the edge of the property and maintenance of a vegetative clearance strip of at least two metres around the foundations. An institutional pest prevention plan was proposed, adapted to the constraints of a warehouse in continuous operation.
Results and monitoring program
The follow-up carried out six weeks after the intervention confirmed the absence of activity in the treated beams. Monitoring traps were maintained for an additional three months to confirm the complete elimination of the colony. The roof leak had been repaired in parallel by the internal maintenance team, and the humidity conditions favourable to the infestation had been eliminated. For other examples of achievements in industrial and commercial environments, consult this case study in an anthill and this realization in carpenter ants on the South Shore.