Baiting Ants

Chapter 3

Section II – General Pest Control Basics

of the

Pest Bear & AffiliatesService Personnel Development Program

2005

Copyright @ 2005-2006, Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Introduction

Ants are the second highest revenue generators in the pest control field

cockroaches are first

fleas are third

Spraying ants is the worst control procedure because:

1. It will not provide long-term control

2. It only kills the foraging workers and not the nest

3. Since ant colonies are usually in accessible areas spraying does little to control the infestation

4. It can make the problem worse by forcing the colony to split or “bud” into two or more colonies

Steps for successful ant baiting

1. Make a thorough inspection

2. Determine if pre-baiting is necessary

3. Select the proper treatment option

4. Apply the proper bait

5. Reinspect and evaluate success or failure

Making a thorough inspection

1. Identify the ants

2. Find the colony (if possible)

3. Identify contributing conditions

4. Keep a record of your findings

Proper Identification

Different species prefer differentfood sources

habitants

The more you know about a particular species the more accurate you inspection will be

Knowledge about a particular species will help you locate the colony

Information from your client will assist you in locating the colony

There are twelve (12) major pest ants which we will consider

• Ghost Ants• Cornfield Ants• Argentine Ants• Pyramid Ants• Carpenter Ants• Large Yellow Ants

• Small Honey Ants • Pharaoh Ants• Pavement Ants• Thief Ants• Little Black Ants• Acrobat Ants

Ants to be considered

Major Ant Species

• Very small and hard to see• 1/16th inch long• Pale color• Have a single node• Front is dark and back is

light• Normally found outdoors• Feed on sweets and insects• Common in warm climates

Ghost Ants

Major Ant Species

• Workers are brown to black• 1/8th inch long• Found throughout the US• Normally lives outside• May invade homes• Commonly found at picnics• Feed on sweets

Cornfield Ants

Major Ant Species

• Small and shiny brown• 1/8th inch long• Have a single node• Found in southern areas• Live outdoors• Move indoors in winter• Have large colonies• Feed on sweets and fats• May switch away from baits

Argentine Ants

Major Ant Species

• Are all the same size• 1/8th inch long• Have a single node• Found in southern states• Nest in soil outside• Make simple mounds• Forage inside for food• Feed on a variety of foods• Get along with Fire Ants

Pyramid Ants

Major Ant Species

• Come in variety of sizes and colors

• Are polymorphic • Have a single node• Live in dead wood• Found throughout US• Forage at night• Like sweets• May switch off baits

Carpenter Ants

Major Ant Species

• Also known as Citronella Ant • Common in US• 1/8th inch long• Have one node• Colonies usually underground• Not known to accept baits

Large Yellow Ants

Major Ant Species

• Light to dark brown• Has a single node• Found in Eastern US• Lives outdoors in shaded

areas• Very cold tolerant• Feeds on sweets

Small Honey Ants

Major Ant Species

• Light yellowish color• 1/16 th inch long• Two nodes• Have large colonies• Have multiple queens• Very common in southern

US• Major hospital pest• Likes fats, oils and sweets• May switch away from baits

Pharaoh Ants

Major Ant Species

• Dark brown• 1/8th inch long • All one size• Found in Eastern US• Nest outdoors• Forage indoors• Feed on sweets, fats and

other foods

Pavement Ants

Major Ant Species

• Light brown to yellow• Very small • 1/16th inch long• Steal food from other ants• Move in trails along walls• Feed on grease• Rarely eat sweets

Thief Ants

Major Ant Species

• Black with two nodes• Very small• 1/16th inch long• Similar to Pharaoh Ants• Commonly found in

houses• Feed on sweets, oils and

fats

Little Black Ants

Major Ant Species

• Light brown to dark black• Have two nodes• 1/16th inch long• Have heart-shaped abdomen• Nest outdoors• Found throughout the US• Found in old termite damage• Feed on sweets and grease

Acrobat Ants

Find the Colonies

The more you find the more successful your treatment will be

Look for trails, mounds, frass piles and dead ants

Check spider webs and window sills for dead ants

Check along walls and around water sources

Around foundations, along slabs and in leaf litter

Expansion joints around patios are a favored trailing area

Look for ants going up and down trees

What are conducive conditions

Moisture sources (ants need moisture)

Ants need food, shelter and air to survive

Trees, branches or shrubs touching the structure

Foliage touching a structure is like a highway

Cracks or crevices which could provide nesting areas

The underside of a concrete slab is preferred habitant

Alternative food sources (pet food, garbage etc.)

This will aid in selecting a proper bait

Prebaiting

Prebaiting aids in the identification of infested areas

Prebaiting gives an indication which bait to use

****A major drawback to prebaiting is that it takes a

considerable amount of time

****A thorough bait program can function as a prebaiting

program

Placing baits in monitoring stations and relocating stations to active areas is a combination prebait and control procedure

Indoor Baiting - Using bait stationsBait stations should be tamper-resistant and inspectable

Place the stations next to trailing ants or in areas of high infestation probability

Place station in convenient but hidden locations

If station is to be in fixed position, putting thin tape around the edges will increase the number of ants entering the station

Instead of wiping a trail , blowing the ants off the trail will usually not interfere with the pheromone trail

Bait stations may be effective for a year if properly placed

Replace stations which have had the bait consumed

Move undisturbed stations to other areas

Indoor Baits - Gel Baits

Gel baits can be very effective if properly placed

Apply gel to areas where ants are trailing or feeding

Several small applications are better than single large applications

Make sure the gel bait is cleared for interior application

Control depends on a complete inspection and thorough placement of bait

Outdoor Baiting

Stations labeled for outdoor use work well if applied to the exterior of the building

Granular baits are very effective outdoors

Granular baits are not granular insecticides - they are baits

Place the bait in areas where it will be discovered quickly

Bait can be applied to perimeter areas of the structure, as broadcast applications or directly to mounds

Thoroughness is the key to exterior baiting for ants

Controlling the situation

If the colony can be located, it can be eliminated by direct application of insecticide dust or baiting

If the ants will readily accept a bait, baiting is the best means of control

No control procedure will be successful if natural foods are readily available…Cleaning up the conducive conditions is vital to a successful control program

Communicate with the client and gain cooperation in eliminating the food and harborage conditions