Do I need an exterminator? - Ask Extension
Moved into this house recently- noticed pile of frass sitting on top of interior trim around sliding glass door going to outside. This trim is not tig...
Knowledgebase
Do I need an exterminator? #848199
Asked September 01, 2023, 11:45 AM EDT
Moved into this house recently- noticed pile of frass sitting on top of interior trim around sliding glass door going to outside. This trim is not tight to the wall. Have seen a few dead small winged and non-winged black ants handing around the area. In this same area, the outside trim looks and and weathered and possibly rotting, but not soft to the touch. This frass continues to build after removing it. This is the only place in or around the house where this is occurring. I cannot spend the kind of money needed to hire an exterminator, as they would want to treat entire house and then some, also killing every other beneficial critter in the area! Please can someone just tell me what insect may be causing this? Picture attached. THANK YOU
Delaware County Ohio
Expert Response
The pile of material does appear to be debris from a colony of ants. The debris appears to be too small for carpenter ants. It could be from pavement ants or a similarly small ant species. I suspect that the debris is falling from above and collecting below, so look high for the possible site where the ants are living. An ant bait such as Advion Ant Bait Gel might work at controlling the colony. You may have to remove trim around the door to see where the ants are located and at the same time determine if there is water damage from a leak around the door frame. Eliminating the ants may be the least of your worries.