In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1986. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: It was reported that in late May 1986 “millions of the winged ants left their nests in the forest and descended on homes where they will try to establish new colonies.” In warm and humid conditions, winged male and female carpenter ants will emerge, mate, and then find an area to establish a nest. Damp areas around houses can be ideal locations, but many homes built in Whistler by the 1980s used wood that had been treated to discourage colonies from establishing nests. Homeowners were, however, encouraged to keep an eye out for any signs of carpenter ant activity.
Question: How did you deal with last week’s carpenter ant invasion?
Hugh O’Reilly – Manufacturer – Tapley’s Farm
We don’t do anything. We had our house frames sprayed during construction so it’s pretty safe. A lot of us have preserved wood foundations too, so it’s poisonous and the ants don’t last very long. I tell the kids that ants are supposed to live outside and they step on them. Other than that, about all you can do is spray.
Gwenyth Mills – Office Manager – Alpine Meadows
You get these little yellow bottles of ant killer, find out where the ants are coming into the house and put it down there. They find it, take it back to the nest and it kills them all. They swarm over the stuff. I put it down last Saturday and they’re all gone now.
Nick Dilalla – Pest Control Representative – Alpine Meadows
Unfortunately there’s not a hang of a lot a person can do because you have to be trained to use many of the effective pesticides. What you can do is use Diazinon or malathion, which are both available at gardening stores, and give it a little bit of a spray. They will curb the problem, but they only last a very short time.