This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Bernice
They are most likely carpenter ants. From my experience, they do swarm for one day, although it is usually the first really warm day in the spring, at least in Vermont. Then they disappear for another year. If they swarm inside a historic house, yes, you need to worry. It most likely means that they have a nest in the wood in the house. They do not get nourishment from the wood so they are not as destructive as termites, but they do build nests, and if they are swarming in the house, they probably have an established nest that could weaken the wood in that area of the building. Look for damp areas of wood, most likely around the sills. Any place water comes off the roof, hits the ground, and splashes back against the sill? Or perhaps wood under a sink where there could be a leak. Have you seen any of these ants occasionally wandering around the house? If so, examine the sills of the building near where you have seen the ants. On a quiet day, you may even be able to hear them chewing. We have had carpenter ants in several buildings. They actually damaged the end of the logs on a log building over a 50-year period to such an extent that we had to take the structure down an build a new one. You need to have pest control folks find the nest and knock it out with the appropriate insecticide. Then remove and replace the damaged wood. I have never seen carpenter ants infest or harm any wooden artifacts. Powder post beetles yes, but not carpenter ants. That does not mean they could not cause harm, but it would have to be a pretty damp piece of furniture. Rick Richard L. Kerschner Director of Preservation and Conservation Shelburne Museum PO Box 10, Route 7 Shelburne, VT 05482 (802) 985-0895 [email protected] Opening May 12: Larger than Life: Quilts by Velda Newman<http://shelburnemuseum.org/exhibitions/larger-than-life-quilts-by-velda-newman/>; Opening June 22: Wyeth Vertigo<http://shelburnemuseum.org/exhibitions/wyeth-vertigo/>. Opening Fall 2013: The Center for Art and Education.<http://shelburnemuseum.org/support-the-museum/the-campaign-for-shelburne-museum/the-campaign-for-shelburne-museum/> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Morris, Bernice Sent: Friday, September 20, 2013 11:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [pestlist] ants in a historic house. This is a message from the Museumpests List. To post to this list send it as an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe please look at the footer of this email. ----------------------------------------------------------- Flying ants recently (on a day at the end of August) were seen swarming inside an historic house set within parkland. They dispersed within a couple of hours. No specimens were kept, and I only have this one bad photo. Is there anyone able to identify the type of ant? I did not see them myself but the conservator on site thought they looked like pavement ants, while our pest control contractor identified them as carpenter ants. Do I need to worry? The house does have museum objects in it, especially wood furniture. Any information/thoughts are most welcome! Bernice ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To send an email to the list, send your msg to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list send an email to [email protected] and in the subject put: "unsubscribe" - no quotes please. You are receiving the Pestlist emails in standard mode. To change to the DIGEST mode send an email to [email protected] with this command in the body: set mode digest pestlist Any problems email [email protected] or [email protected]
