Do-it-yourself Ant Control: Gone Wrong?
Dr. Jason Meyers, Market Development Specialist

First cockroaches. Then termites. Now ants have become America's most perplexing pest.

Entomologists have made great strides in battling society's most-hated insects, but ants remain an elusive enemy. In fact, homeowners in the United States today consider the ant family the most difficult pest group to control.

There are more than 20,000 different species of ants, requiring a variety of treatment techniques. They're also finicky creatures who are attracted to a variety of foods at different times of the year in different regions of the country.

Their effects on humans range from mere nuisance to potentially deadly. Some species invade homes simply looking for shelter, water and food. Some ants, including the recently recognized invasive rasberry crazy ant, have been known to short out a variety of electrical equipment including wall outlets, computers and traffic lights. Some researchers have even found that Pharaoh ants are capable of carrying antibiotic-resistant bacteria in health care facilities¹.

Conducive Conditions

Sanitation can significantly help reduce ant populations in and around your home. Ants love all sorts of foods that are stored in your pantry. They are attracted to food such as sugars (carbohydrates) and proteins you may have tossed in the trash.

Prevention is the best course of action to stop ant invasions. It's helpful to store opened packages of foods in hard plastic containers and dispose of garbage frequently.

Control

Trying to control ants yourself can prove to be a tough task. Some homeowners who attempt to control the problem themselves are left frustrated after purchasing over-the-counter control products, but to little avail.

Identification and ant biology. The first challenge in fighting ants is identifying the species you're up against. Ants are a considerably small lot and so the physical characteristics that differentiate species are even smaller. There are also particular behaviors that are identifiable to a trained eye (such as how they trail, how they react to being disturbed, where they build a nest, etc.).

Pest Management Professionals undergo training that includes ant identification and behavioral monitoring. When considering whether to use a Pest Management Professional or to do-it-yourself, realize that a simple phone call could solve your problem in as little as one visit.

Hiring a professional can be easier than choosing from the hundreds of control products at a local lawn and garden center and can help reduce concerns and worries about improper insecticide applications to accidental creation of more ant colonies to creating potentially harmful environmental impacts. Ant Baits. The different formulations of ant baits include granular, liquid, gel and solid bait in stations. Deciding which baits to use and when to use them and where to place them can be a challenge.

Outdoors, some ant species are best controlled by placing bait along the foraging trails. For others, it's best to mound the bait onto one spot. Other ant species require scattering the bait throughout the yard.

When ants are indoors, strategic placement is a key. You do not want to place the bait(s) where children or pets can come in contact with the bait. Among the best spots are cracks and crevices, and under cabinets where certain species are likely to visit or have been seen foraging.

Liquid Treatments. These can be stand-alone treatments or if done properly can be used in conjunction with baiting. Some liquid control products are repellents and others are nonrepellents (also known as “undetectables”). The use of repellent materials can spread ant populations or mask baiting efforts. Recent research has shown that the right combination of undetectable treatments and baits can create longer lasting, more consistent control of ant populations.

Unfortunately, there are currently no undetectable liquid treatments available for over-the-counter purchase at retail customer stores that carry insect control products. Pest Management Professionals have access to more advanced technologies, that are not available to homeowners.

A number of research projects conducted by university professors throughout the country have suggested that Termidor® termiticide/insecticide and Phantom® termiticide-insecticide provide some of the longest lasting and consistent control of all the available ant control products.

The undetectable materials quickly control ants, but are slow enough to allow the ants to pass the active control agents to other members of the colony, including the queen(s). Thus, Pest Management Professionals utilize these new technologies to take advantage of the social nature of ants.

Prevention

Pest Management Professionals can implement a number of prevention techniques, including tactics such as proper maintenance of shrubbery and trees close to your home, and/or using different landscape ground covers. Above all, keeping your property clear of clutter both indoors and outdoors can drastically decrease your chances for an ant infestation.

New Ants

There seems to be an onslaught of new ant species coming into the United States, which means control of these pests will be a challenge. With new species like the Rasberry crazy ant, white-footed ants, the European fire ant, and the ever-expanding red imported fire ant, you are likely to have a new ant coming to a home near you.

¹Moreira, D.D.O., V.de Morais, O. Vieira-da-Motta, A.E. de C. Campos-Farinha, A. Tonhasca Jr. 2005. Neotropical Entomology.

Always read and follow label directions.

Termidor and Phantom are registered trademarks of BASF.