Question
We have a large soft maple in our front yard. About 4 years ago lightning struck down the center of the tree leaving it's mark in the bark. Over the years since, the tree hasn't shown any signs of stress except that now there is an area of what looks like saw dust in the center of the tree. We haven't seen anything looking like termites but have had problems with carpenter ants. We've had an exterminator routinely spray the outer perimeters of our house for years now and the tree is only about 10- 12 ft. from the front of our house. Is it possible that the tree will die now after years of the lightning strike?

Answer
Sounds like you have borers or maybe the carpenter ants  in the exposed wood of the tree. The woody part of the tree is not living so anything attacking it will not kill the tree but could weaken the trunk and a wind storm could break it. I would spray the exposed area with an insecticide (maybe enen get the exterminator to do it the next time he comes), or check with your local nursery/garden type store for an insecticide for borers.