2. AS PART OF AN
INTEGRATED PEST
MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Ant
Control

3. ► Synopsis: There are many species of ants, and likewise many types,
and formulations of pesticides. Ants are more easily controlled
however with the combination of IPM
► Ants are a nuisance in many households, warehouses, restaurants,
and other structures. The best solution for ant control is a more
complex process that involves the use of more than just a simple
"spray" to eliminate them. Identification is a key factor in the control
strategy.
► This course will give you identification, biology, habits and control
strategies.

4. Ants and Pesticides
► Ants can be a large nuisance in houses, warehouses,
restaurants, and just about any where else.
► Control becomes difficult when not done exactly as
prescribed, and things aren’t done exactly as they
should be.
► Repellent pesticides can ruin a treatment strategy but
quite opposite, the use of non-repellent products can
be mean the difference between success and failure.

5. Ants and Pesticides
► Tempo and other highly repellent products can divide ant
colonies, force ants into unwanted areas and trap ants in
undesirable areas of the home.
► When the long residual of a pyrethroid is desired it may be
best to apply a bifenthrin spray since bifenthrin at a low label
rate is repellent only to termites, and not to ants (according
to the manufacturer with regards to Talstar sprays)
► The best solution for ants however is a complex process that
involves the use of more than just a simple "spray" to
eliminate them.

6. Ants and Pesticides
► For new account startup services and special one-time
treatments, the use of a Fipronil based spray like Termidor
along the foundation is recommended, but several other
products work well for that purpose.
► For areas away from the foundation treatments may be
done with a neonicotinoid based product.
► Neonicotinoid products include the active ingredients
Imidicloprid, Acetimiprid, and Thiamethoxam.

7. Ants and Pesticides
► A more advanced option is the use of a liquid
formulation with a dual mode of action. Generally the
ideal product would have a pyrethroid, and a
neonicotinoid active ingredient in the formulation.
► Products like Bithor SC, Transport Mikron, Transport GHP, and
Temprid SC have this type of dual action as recommended. At
the lowest label rate these products should not have a high
enough repellency to effect control.

8. Ants and Pesticides
► Outside dusts such as Delta Dust should be used in
moderation, and not broadcasted so as to create an
issue with their repellency.
► In cases where their use may pose a threat to control
they should not be used.
► There are many types of granular ant baits used in lawns
and gardens, but two primary types seem to work the
best.

9. Ants and Pesticides
► These include Mother Earth Granules, Niban granules, and several other
brands. Since they are stomach poisons they must be eaten to cause
insect death, and their mode of action makes it unlikely that ingestion of
the small amounts used would cause any harm to the environment or
non-target pests.
► The second type of granule includes abamectin based poisons that
block the neurotransmitter gama aminobutyric acid.
► Feeding and egg laying stops in insects, and death occurs after several
days. These baits include Advance 375a and Ascend granules. When
used in sub lethal doses abamectin has been shown to limit
reproductive rates of ant queens.

10. Ants and Pesticides
► Outside dusts such as DeltaDust should be used in moderation, and
not broadcasted so as to create an issue with their repellency.
► In cases where their use may pose a threat to control they should
not be used.
► There are many types of granular ant baits used in lawns and
gardens, but two primary types seem to work the best.

11. Ants and Pesticides
► The first of which, boron based baits, are made by adding boric
acid to ground corn, almonds, or other carrier agents
► These include Mother Earth Granules, Niban granules, and several other
brands. Since they are stomach poisons they must be eaten to cause
insect death, and their mode of action makes it unlikely that ingestion of
the small amounts used would cause any harm to the environment or
non-target pests.
► The second type of granule includes abamectin based poisons that
block the neurotransmitter gama aminobutyric acid.
► Feeding and egg laying stops in insects, and death occurs after several
days. These baits include Advance 375a and Ascend granules. When
used in sub lethal doses abamectin has been shown to limit
reproductive rates of ant queens.

12. Ants and Pesticides
► Interior treatments are done in several different ways,
with techniques and styles that are easily combined.
► The first approach is liquid pesticide application.
► Liquid pesticides are best applied inside as a crack and
crevice treatment.
► Broadcast treatments are very unreliable, ill advised, and can be
unsafe as well as ineffective. On the contrary however crack and
crevice treatments have a higher level of safety because of the low
amount of pesticide use, and can be more effective thanks to the
precise nature of this type of application.

13. Ants and Pesticides
► The targeted application of dusts and gel baits in addition to crack
and crevice treatments ensures a higher level of control.
► In some cases the use of dusts and baits alone can be effective.
Liquid treatments should be used only when necessary.
► Baits can be used in areas along trails, but a good rule is to use them
close to the ground or an ant entry point.
► This will slow the ants climb up the walls, or into other areas making
them less of an eyesore. On the contrary however, ant bait place
along ceilings will force ants to trail up walls and other items to
reach the bait.

14. Ant Species and
Techniques

15. Ant Species and Techniques
► The center section of an ant’s body that separates the abdomen
from the thorax is referred to as the pedicel.
► The pedicel has either one or nodes that protrude from the top of it.
► Ants can be separated into two primary types with other
classifications grouping them into more complex sub groups.
► Most structure infesting ants will have one node with the exception
of a few two node ant species.

16. One Node: Argentine Ants
► Argentine ants are the most common species found
in Southern California and other areas of moderate
weather in the western part of the United States.
► They have large colonies that intermingle with other
colonies on the property allowing for the sharing
resources.
► Control of these ants can be difficult because the
large super connected colonies will infest the inside
of the house connected to several different queens
outside with most of the colony still out in the yard.
► Argentine ant control should be well thought out
before the treatment begins and the property
prepared with the customer's cooperation.

17. One Node: Argentine Ants
► Lawn watering should be adjusted to alter the property in manner
that lowers ant intrusion into the structure.
► When a lawn is too wet ants can be pushed inside.
► When a lawn is too dry ants will come inside land looking for water.
► As the seasons change lawn watering should be adjusted to
match.
► Likewise the treatments should change throughout the year to
match the changes in the ant colonies behavior and relative size.

18. One Node: Argentine Ants
► When starting an ant service in the summer lowering the
ant population is the priority, but a treatment in the
spring also involves limiting reproduction rates.
► As argentine ants are killed by pesticides issues associated with
their control arise from their ability to quickly replace lost workers.
► Therefore control in the months where their reproduction is high
can be greatly increased by the use of abamectin based baits
outside.
► The opposite is true in the winter however, ants do little foraging
therefore they wouldn't take very much if any back to the nest,
and if they did it would have little effect since their rates of
reproduction are much lower.

19. One Node: Odorous House Ants
► Odorous house ants are closely related to argentine ants
but their control is much more complicated.
► They can and often do nest inside of walls, shiplap
ceilings and other interior areas.
► This makes their control very difficult since the source of
infestation is usually.
► Odorous house ant will also have colonies with multiple
queens and multiple satellite colonies.
► This behavioral trait, referred to as budding makes it
even harder to control them since a lost queen
won't collapse the colony and lost workers are
quickly replenished.
► Seeking out and finding colonies whenever possible
should be a priority when trying to control or eradicate
them.

20. One Node: Odorous House Ants
► Wall voids with a known or suspected colony can be treated with a foam
machine and an appropriate non repellent pesticide.
► Dusts should never be used for these ants because the dusts act repellent
and force ants into other areas of the structure.
► Likewise repellent pesticides such as pyrethrum will also cause colonies to
move or divide.
► While the use of insect growth regulators seems appropriate, and would
logically slow budding, their use is not recommended.
► Nygard which would seem to be adequate, acts as a repellent to odorous
house ants, and in many cases causes more issues than it resolves.
► The best process for control is the use of crack and treatments in infested
areas, and localized gel bait placements.

21. One Node: Odorous House Ants
► Odorous house ants can easily be distinguished from other closely related
ant species because of their potent odor when crushed.
► The smell is said to resemble rotten coconut.
► Under a microscope more obvious visual cues can be noted.
► They have the same globular anus as other closely related ant species
► The spiked node on their abdomen is usually hidden against the thorax
whereas it can be easily seen in the other closely related species.
► They swarm with flying alates leaving the nest around the late spring.
► The swarmers do not have the obvious smell when crushed therefore
when looking at flying ants the smell cannot be used as a factor for
species determination.

22. One Node: Carpenter Ants
► Carpenter ants are a common type of ant that is divided into
many different sub species.
► Of those sub species only a few infest homes typically.
► Carpenter ants typically live in trees where they create hollow
cavities in wood to make their nests and satellite colonies.
► These satellite colonies however can sometimes be found in
the structural and non-structural lumber of homes.
► A key sign of infestation is the frass that can be found in areas
of infestation.
► Found among the wood shavings from the ant colony
many times are ant heads and other left over body
parts. These parts are discarded from the colony and
can be easily distinguished from termite droppings which
are smooth with evenly sized and exactly shaped
fragments.

23. One Node: Carpenter Ants
► Carpenter ant workers are polymorphic which means that they can
be found in different sizes.
► Likewise they have a globular anus, which separates them from
several other species of ant
► under a microscope a ring of yellow hairs can be noted at the end
of their abdomen.
► They have no stingers but in many cases are large enough to bite
► Their control inside of a house may involve injecting galleries where
satellite colonies are located, treating the outside perimeter, outside
trees, and locally treating inside hot spots.

24. One Node: Carpenter Ants
► Several companies make granular carpenter ant baits for
outside use, and liquid treatments can be done using
appropriate non repellents.
► Integrated pest management practices include the trimming
of trees that are touching the house, and removing dead
trees from the property.
► These IPM measures are a necessity in many cases and can
be the difference between long term control and small, even
unnoticeable changes.

25. One Node: Velvety
Tree Ants
► Velvety Tree Ants were traditionally found in
rural places and were not a typical problem
within structures.
► However, Velvety tree ants are becoming
more common in urban environments.
► They do not prefer the inside of a house. In
fact most inside infestations clear up on their
own without any treatment.
► Outside they can be found under bark mulch,
all over trees, and in dead logs.

26. One Node: Velvety Tree Ants
► When crushed they have a similar odor to odorous house ants.
► Their bodies have an obvious change in color between the
abdomen and thorax with the pedicel usually an orange
color.
► The abdomen itself has small hairs on top that resemble velvet
which is why it has the name that it does.
► The abdomen therefore has a velvety appearance.

27. One Node: Velvety Tree Ants
► Products with a dual mode of action such as Temprid or Bithor are
most appropriate and with cases such as heavy bark mulch these
products can be broadcasted with the use of power sprayer.
► Treatments should not just focus on the ants themselves but should
include the use of systemic insecticides that kill honeydew
producing insects since they are the primary food source of this
species
► The Temprid label allows for its use at a rate lower than what is listed,
and cutting it down to a rate of. 375% which is 4 ml per gallon is
appropriate.

28. One Node: Velvety Tree Ants
► Because the treatment involves soaking the area, when the water
evaporates a similar amount of pesticide will be left on the ground
as if the area were treated using a backpack sprayer at a higher
rate.
► However, the treatment will penetrate deep into areas of mulch,
and ground cover as a result of the heavy spray and large amount
of water used by comparison.
► Abamectin based baits, and boron based baits make the job
complete when applying them outside as needed.

29. 2 Node: Fire Ants and
Harvester Ants
► Many of the ant species with two nodes have
similar characteristics with the exception of a
few.
► In the case of many species such as fire ants
and harvester ants they prefer to be outside.
► In rare cases with fire ants, colonies and
reproductives can be found inside of wall
voids with accumulated water, flooded
basements, and areas of water damage.
► In many cases roof leaks, and damaged
plumbing are discovered after a swarm of
ants flies from the area.

30. 2 Node: Fire Ants and Harvester
Ants
► Their control outside is done by treating mounds individually then
applying a general perimeter spray, followed by the application of
baits.
► Many companies make special fire ant baits, but Advance 375a
and the full size Niban G (or generic) baits are appropriate.
► The granules of Niban FG are generally considered too small for these
larger ants with the exception of Southern Fire Ants which are smaller,
and a few other species that feed on smaller granules.

31. 2 Node: Fire Ants and Harvester
Ants
► Fire ants workers usually have two rounded nodes on their pedicel,
and they have stingers.
► The Red Imported Fire Ant is red as the name suggests and very
large compared to other ant species.
► The southern fire ant is much smaller with the head and thorax red
to brown and the abdomen mostly black.
► Harvester ants are red like Imported Fire Ants, and also large, but
can be easily be distinguished from them by noting the hairs on the
underside of the ant workers faces.
► It can be said that they have “beards”

32. 2 Node: Pharaoh Ants
► Pharaoh ants are a lot like odorous house
ants with how they are controlled, but
aren't as easily moved from place to place.
► They are also much smaller than most other
ant species with a relatively small size of
around 2mm in length.
► They have stingers but don't use them.
► Budding is normal with this species and
they can have several hundred
reproductives per colony, but growth
regulators can and should be used on them
to limit reproduction.

33. 2 Node: Pharaoh Ants
► Pharaoh ants can nest in walls and prefer to nest especially close to
water sources.
► Areas behind baseboards in bathrooms where humidity might make
an area attractive are common nest locations, but also, in wall
voids, and even inside of furniture.
► Inside of houses they prefer warm humid conditions (80-86 degrees,
and 80% humidity).

34. 2 Node: Pharaoh Ants
► Like with Odorous house ants the use of repellent pesticides increases the
likelihood treatment failure
► Treatments should always be done with non-repellent pesticides, and
selective applications of baits, and dusts.
► Repellent pesticides can force ants to go into hiding while colonies are
moved, and return as a much larger colony, or even multiple colonies in
reaction to the repellency.
► Exterior treatments should not be overlooked, and should be done in
many cases.
► These ants can nest outside close to the house, and can sometimes be
found under weed covers with workers foraging the adjacent rooms.

35. IPM Strategies for
Ants

36. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► First and foremost, ant behavior varies depending on moisture.
► Overwatered lawns and under watered lawns are of concern for
many species of ants.
► Leaking pipes, roof leaks, and any moisture related structural defect
can lead to problems relating to any ant species.
► Proper lawn watering is very important.
► However, in many cases homeowners prefer the simple, incorrect idea
of "the more water the better." This often times forces ant colonies close
to the foundation, inside of the house.

37. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► Water is such an offense to ants that in many cases ants can be
seen carrying eggs as they leave an area just saturated.
► Ants will quite often enter homes as a result of overwatering outside,
but likewise a lawn that is too dry will also force ants inside.
► It is often seen on the driest days of the year when ants scour the inside
of a structure in search of what's missing outside; water.

38. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► Gaps and cracks that can provide ant entry should be
sealed when possible.
► While weep holes around windows should treated with
an appropriate pesticide product, other cracks and
gaps around window frames can be sealed with
appropriate caulking.

39. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► Cracks in brick and concrete can be treated but for
long term control those gaps and cracks should be
sealed.
► On the inside of a structure, countertops should be
sealed along joints, and gaps, with particular attention
around sinks and toilets for areas that water or other
wetness may accumulate.

40. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► Particular attention should be paid to any recurring issue that ants
seem attracted to.
► If an ant problem continues with ants returning to a dripping faucet,
or continuous food source such as dishes in the sink, those
conducive conditions should be corrected immediately.
► Care should be taken on all ant inspections to find these issues that
should be corrected.

41. Integrated Pest Management
Strategies
► Dripping sprinklers, spilled food in cupboards, loose
candy stashes and many other things can contribute to
an ongoing ant infestation.
► In many houses things fall behind refrigerators, stoves,
and other items that do not get moved regularly.
Checking, and cleaning these areas are always a
necessity. Treating these areas may also be appropriate,
but not always necessary.

42. Ants As Part
of An
Advanced
IPM Plan.
► Photos courtesy of photographers published on
Bugwood.org ITP Node The use of trade names in
this publication is solely for the purpose of providing
specific information.
► Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org
► April Noble, Antweb.org, Bugwood.org
► Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org
► David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
► Eli Sarnat, Antkey, USDA APHIS PPQ ITP, via
Bugwood.org
► American Pest CEUS does not guarantee or
warranty the products named, and references to
them in this publication do not signify our approval
to the exclusion of other products of suitable
composition. All chemicals should be used in
accordance with directions on the manufacturer's
label. Use pesticides safely. Read and follow
directions on the manufacturer's label.
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