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A Division of Bugaboo Pest Control, LLC

Vancouver (360) 695-2847    Camas (360) 834-5244    Portland (503) 289-0576

WASHINGTON PEST CONTROL LICENSE 7472            OREGON PEST CONTROL LICENSE AG-L0108139CPA

Interesting links www.antcam.com    Quick Links to insects and pests information  See recent article in The Columbian

Questions & Answers Company information Costs About Ant Control NW How much does it cost to treat for carpenter ants? How we eliminate sugar ants How much does it cost to treat for other types of ants? Methods What coupons or discounts do you have in affect right now? Where do you treat?   What methods and procedures do you use to get rid of ants? Will boric acid get rid of ants? Ant Questions What type of Chemicals do you use? Why do some ants have wings? Do you need to make repeated visits? What's the difference between a carpenter ant and other types of ants?   Safety Issues What do carpenter ants look like? What are these little tiny ants? What are sugar ants? How safe is it?   Other Do we have to leave my house? Does your company provide services for other types of pests? What about pets and children?     Do you offer Do it yourself products? Guarantees   How long is your guarantee and what are the terms? Quick Links to insects and pests information         Our sister company, Bugaboo Pest Control, services all types of pest control situations.

WHAT AREAS DO YOU TREAT?

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The areas we treat differ between carpenter ants and other little tiny ants.  But in either case, our objective is to kill off all colonies in and around the structure. Therefore, in many cases our focus will be on the most likely areas where ants build their nests.  For example, many homes in our area have crawl spaces. This is prime location where ants nest. Also, areas nearby the structure such as trees, landscaping wood, fences, should be treated. Basically, any place where there is earth to wood contact, it should be treated. Generally speaking, we treat the interior, exterior, crawl space area, and outside such as trees, landscaping wood, decks, and fences.

TREATING WALL VOIDS

Drilling and injecting material into the wall voids is a common practice in the industry for the treatment of ants.

While we still use that method as a part of our procedure, we do not always find it practical to do so in every instance. Materials such as "Hardy Plank" and other concrete fiber siding may have their warranties void by drilling holes into them. This procedure should always be carefully evaluated by a technician before proceeding.

At times specific areas such as know infestations around doors and window may require a wall void injection. We have found that exterior treatments with TERMIDOR eliminates colonies inside the structure without performing a wall void injection procedure. Termidor is a non-repellent material that ants cannot detect. Consequently, they track it back to their nests. Within a few days, the colony is obliterated. Fipronil is the active ingredient in FRONTLINE® flea treatment for cats and dogs.  When insects come into contact with this product, they have not only contaminated themselves but their friends back home.  Once contaminated, ants stop grooming themselves and attending the colony. Consequently the colony dies of neglect.

WHAT TYPE OF MATERIAL DO YOU USE TO TREAT WITH?

TERMIDOR We use a Varity of non or low toxic materials that are non-hazardous to humans and pets. One such product that has proven to be very affective is "TERMIDOR" with its active ingredient Fipronil.  Unlike conventional pesticides, Termidor is a non-repellent material that ants cannot detect. Consequently, they track it back to their nests. Within a few days, the colony is obliterated.

diatomaceous  eartH  Another all natural product we use on occasion is diatomaceous earth. This product is is not a poison. When insects come into contact with diatomaceous earth, the sharp edges lacerate the bugs' waxy exoskeleton and then the powdery absorbs their body fluids causing death from dehydration. Diatomaceous earth is a remarkable, all-natural product made from tiny fossilized water plants.

PYRETHRUMS Occasionally we use Pyrethrin based products in the a crawl space area. We do this by means of a “Thermo-Fogging” machine. The “Thermo-Fogger” uses a mixture containing deodorized mineral spirits and Pyrethrin. We usually hook up our machine to the outside foundation vents and fog the entire crawl space. Because the fog is heated, it rises upward, penetrating underneath the insulation.

BAITS  We also we baits. Baits are not very affective on carpenter ants, but work well on little tiny ants in combination of a non-repellant material.  By use of this system we use carefully selected baits injected into strategic locations that your ant will love to death.  We accomplish this without yucky sprays or toxic bombs.  We have special injection tools that put this material out of you way (Under sinks near plumbing, inside wall voids, under dishwasher, etc.) When an ant finds this material he ingests much more than he personally consumes.  As he (it) takes it back it marks his trail with a pheromone which signals his fellow workers "Hey follow this trail and you'll find good food".  Consequently the unsuspecting colony becomes contaminated and passes away on to ant heaven.  (assuming that they were good little ants). One such bait is "Albert's Gel Bait Syringe" /  A thick no-drip formula for easy baiting of sugar ants. This syringe loaded material controls sugar feeding ants – The active ingredient is 1% Boric Acid    The Inert Ingredients is a sugary attractant that ants can’t resist. Uncle Albert's is 100% effective and the unique. It is non-hazardous with a delayed kill formula is a great advantage for elimination of entire ant colonies.   Ants take it back to the nest and infect the entire colony! See label for more information  See MSDS

HOW SAFE ARE THESE PRODUCTS?

While we strive to use the safest products available, we realize that all chemicals potentially pose a threat to some degree. That is why caution is always needed, even with the most conscientiously environmental  designed products. Click here to find out more about what products on the market are safe and unsafe products.  Many people are surprised to learn that many over the counter products such as Raid® pose hazards to some people.   The products we use are the lowest in toxicity available.

DO NEED HAVE TO LEAVE OUR HOME?

Since we strife to use very safe products and methods, you do not usually need to leave your home during treatment.  However, some have preferred to do so when we perform the our crawl space treatment, when we use our “Thermo-Fogging” machine. The “Thermo-Fogger” consists of a mixture containing deodorized mineral spirits and natural Pyrethrin based material. Because the fog is heated, it rises upward, penetrating underneath the insulation, where insects nest hide. Occasionally, a small amount of the material can rise up into the living space areas. Therefore it is preferable for the people to leave for a few hours. However, It is not always necessary to use this procedure.

Do you need to make repeated visits?

Not usually. In most cases one visit will eliminate your pest problem. However, we do guarantee so if for some reason we need to return, there is no charge for repeat visits during the guarantee period.

DO YOU GUARANTEE YOUR WORK?

Yes; If at any time, you are not satisfied with the services that you have been provided, you may request a cash refund, by simply notifying Bugaboo Pest Control, in writing, stating the reason for your decision.  Upon receiving such notice, Bugaboo Pest Control will present you with a cash refund , within 30 days, determined on a prorated basis, for the remainder of time in this warranty or, if you prefer, we will re-treat at no charge.

We offer guarantees of various time periods for the treatments that we perform. Our guarantee is a no hassle money back satisfaction. If your not happy we're not happy.

Pyrethrums or Pyrethrin products are an extract of the Chrysanthemum plant

• They are the most widely used botanical insecticide.

• They are the active ingredient of many household sprays and home vegetable-garden preparations.
• They are often used them in flea dips for cats and dog and ointments for horses’ eyes.

The active ingredient in Termidor  is fipronil and it works quite differently from other pesticides. Ants and termites avoid pesticides and will walk around it. But with Termidor they walk right through it and take it back to the nest. It is also kills termites. It’s been the most successful product we’ve used, with very few call backs. See label and MSDS. TERMIDOR, with its active ingredient fipronil, works quite differently from other pesticides. Ants and termites avoid pesticides and will walk around it. But with Termidor they walk right through it, and take it back to the nest. It is also kills termites. It’s been the most successful product we’ve used.  

Fipronil is the active ingredient in FRONTLINE® flea treatment for cats and dogs.  When bugs come into contact with this product, they have not only contaminated themselves but any other of their species.  Once contaminated, the ant (or other targeted pest) no longer grooms itself or feeds, thus causing death.

Why do some ants have wings?

Actually most ants have wings during their early development and mating. However most ants that you notice are wingless. From spring to summer, ants that do have wings are seen flying in the air and swarming around the lights in our homes and other places.  Find out more at http://ant.edb.miyakyo-u.ac.jp/BE/Kingdom/0405/0405e.html

SWARMING ANTS WITH WINGS

No need to panic

Contrary to what some would want you to believe, these large flying ants are not going to instantly eat your house up. Yes, there is a need for concern, and they should not be ignored, but carpenter ants work slow.

If you have seen carpenter ants inside your home on persistent basis, who should plan to get it treated in the near future. But in some instances, the presence of a few flying ants is more of an annoyance than an immediate danger. Be careful not to get talked into expensive treatments that are not warranted. Perhaps just a preventative treatment may be all that is necessary.

Why do I see big black ants with with wings?

Who are these guys? What does this mean?  Do I need an exterminator?  Can I do this myself? What does it cost to have it treated?

When a colony gets very large (six- to ten-years-old and has more than 2000 workers), it may produce winged reproductives, called swarmers. They are often produced during the summertime and may overwinter in the colony. In our local area, we have people reporting swarms of black carpenter ants right now. The males often emerge first and are smaller than the females.

Who are these guys and what do they want?

The swarmers are potential reproductives. The reproductive period is called swarming since the male and female reproductives all leave the nest at the same time to fly off and find a mate from another colony. After mating, the male dies, and the newly inseminated female or queen selects a nest site. If your home is suitable, they may decide to stay. If not, they just die or go someplace else.

Once a suitable site has been located, the new queen will break off her wings, excavate the site to her satisfaction, and begin laying eggs. The queen raises this first brood through the larval stage, but once they pupate and emerge as adults, these workers take over the functions of foraging for food, further nest excavation, and brood rearing. The queen's only responsibility from this point on is to lay eggs. Once the colony is well established, the queen will begin to produce some reproductives as well as workers

After mating, a single queen seeks out a suitable nesting site and lays only a few eggs that hatch into maggot-like larvae. She cares for the larvae that become the colony's first workers, forage for food, and feed the young while the queen continues laying eggs.

What does this mean?

It means that carpenter ants are in your area. It does not automatically mean that they are in your structure; they could have simply came by for a visit to see if you have a nice home for them to live in.

Do I need an exterminator?

Perhaps, but not always. If you have been seeing carpenter ants in your home for several weeks prior to the swarm, there is a good chance that the swarmers came from your structure and you should have it treated. On the other hand, if this is the first time they have showed up, they could have just traveled in from the neighbors tree or distant backyard area. If that's the case, you may want to monitor the situation to see if their activity persist for a few weeks after the swarming season.

Can I do this myself? Do it yourself products sometimes resolve the problems in the short run; but not always. We provide some do it yourself products to our customers who prefer to do their own. However, they do not always work. Having the right tools and experience are more important than just having the right product.

TENGARD quart size permethrin concentrate   This product can be used as a preventative treatment for ants as well as other crawling insects. It is a very economical and highly concentrated. Just 1.6 fl. oz. makes one gallon of ready to use spray. Each quart size container makes 100 gallons. Use on outside areas such as the perimeter of buildings. It should be noted, however, that this product alone, may not eliminate existing colonies that are already inside the structure. It is primarily used as a preventative treatment to rebel insects. Permethrin is a man-made insecticide. It is structurally similar to a naturally-occurring chemical called pyrethrum. Pyrethrum was initially derived from the crushed dried flowers of the daisy Chrysanthemum. View more information on Tengard See label  See MSDS   To buy online click link below.

Buy one Tengard Quart $75.00 + 3.95 shipping

What do carpenter ants look like?

   Basically most are big and black. 

   But some can be as small as a ¼ of an inch. 

   A few have red in the middle thorax. 

   If they’re at least a ½ inch they must be carpenter ants.

   A technician can make a determination by examining the middle section from a side few to see how many nodes it has. (little sharp humps that sick up) carpenter ants have one node.  Some other kinds have two nodes; i.e. The Little Black Ant. 

Where do they nest?

   Most Carpenter Ant species establish their initial nest in decayed wood, but, once established, the ants extend their tunneling into sound wood.  There are three species of carpenter ants but only two in the Northwest.

Do carpenter ants eat wood?

   No; carpenter ants do not eat wood but excavate into to build the homes. 

   Carpenter Ants typically have a parent colony in outside. 

   But they soon setup satellite colonies in the house, often under floor insulation or around widows. 

   If left undisturbed, they will eventually have several colonies.  That’s why spot treatments seldom work and why we offer no guarantees to just treat outside or a portion of a structure.

   The parent colony contains the queen, young larvae and workers, while the satellite contains the mature larvae, pupae, workers, and/or winged reproductives.

   The ants move back and forth from parent nest to satellite nest to feeding areas (in nearby evergreen trees and shrubs such as Douglas fir, true fir and cedar).

   Sometimes they can be seen carrying mature larvae (white and grub-like) or pupae (papery cocoons).

   Ants are generally most active from April to mid-October.

   We often find nests in wood and stumps, railroad ties, fence posts, decks, and fir trees.  All of which we treat.

   The colony does not produce reproductive (winged males and queens) until it is from 3 to 6 years old and contains about 2,000 workers.

Carpenter Ants (Camponotus, spp.)

Description of Workers: Medium to large workers, 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch. Thorax evenly rounded. Colonies have workers that are not all the same size (polymorphism). Black carpenter ants are most common species in Nebraska.

Small indoor ant infestations (those commonly called piss ants, sugar ants) can be any of a variety of small ants.  Pharaoh Ants, Ghost Ants, White-Footed Ants, Odorous House Ants, Crazy Ants and other small ants are often the number one pest control problem in certain areas of the country.  In the pacific northwest, the odorous house ant is of major concern.

Odorous House Ant (Tapinoma sessile) Description of Workers: Small workers, around 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch (2-3 mm); dark brown to black. Bitter odor when crushed - said to smell like rotten coconuts.

Habits: Most frequent structure invading ant in Washington and Oregon; nests in a wide variety of places outdoors and inside. These ants commonly construct shallow nests in soil underneath objects, such as stones, patio blocks and debris. Inside, they prefer areas with moisture such as around hot water pipes and heaters. Odorous house ants have multiple queens. The ants forage when temperatures are cool, even down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Strongly trailing ant; it tends aphids for honeydew and prefers sweets in kitchens.

DOES THE BORIC ACID SOLUTION KILL ANTS?

While a few people claim they have had some success, most of our customers have told us that it did does not work. Why is that? First, if the solution is too strong, ants will ignore it, and if it is too week, they will not receive a toxic dose. But more importantly, if they colony is not adequately affected, they will return with a vengeance. This is true, even if a few do manage to make it back. The bottom line, it kills too quickly.

Stronger is not better when it comes to getting rid of ants. Most household sprays just repel ants.  That is why we use a verity of non or low toxic materials that are non-hazardous to humans and pets. One such product that has proven to be very affective is "TERMIDOR" , with its active ingredient, Fipronil.  Unlike conventional pesticides, Termidor is a non-repellent material, that ants cannot detect. Consequently, they track it back to their nests. Within a few days, the colony is obliterated.