Get ants under control

March 3, 2010

Amanda Sears UK Cooperative Extension agent for Horticulture The Richmond Register Wed Mar 03, 2010, 11:00 AM EST

RICHMOND — Ants. They drive me crazy and I usually do not even mind bugs. Every year they seem to try to find their way into our homes and forage for food. But what can be done about these little nuisances?

Well, the mistake most people make when attempting to control ants is only spraying the ones they see. This approach usually fails because the ants seen foraging over exposed surfaces are only a small portion of the colony. Typically, there will be thousands of additional ants, including one or more egg-laying queens hidden somewhere in a nest. The importance of eliminating queens and other colony members within nests cannot be overstated and is the key to effective ant control.

Ants build their nests in many different locations, both inside and outside of buildings. Control of indoor-nesting ants requires a somewhat different approach than for ants nesting outdoors, because indoor nests usually are hidden or inaccessible. The advantage to using baits is that foraging ants take the insecticide back to the nest and feed it to the queen(s) and other members of the colony. In a relatively short period of time (often within a week) the colony is destroyed.

Ant baits are easy to use. Most homeowner formulations come pre-packaged with the insecticide and food attractant confined within a plastic, child-resistant station. Three of the more effective containerized bait products which can be purchased in most grocery, hardware and discount stores are Combat Quick Kill® and Combat SuperBait® for ants, and Raid Ant Bait Plus with Mettastop®. Place baits next to wherever ants are seen, preferably beside ant trails — invisible odor trails that worker ants follow between food and the nest.

Do not spray other insecticides or cleaning agents around the bait stations as this will keep ants from feeding on the bait. Initially, you should see an increase in the number of ants around the bait station. Do not spray them. This indicates that the ants are feeding on the bait and transporting the insecticide back to the nest. Ant activity around the bait station should subside in a few days as the number of ants in the colony declines. Continue to place other baits wherever ants are seen.

Two other baits that often work well are Terro Ant Killer II® and Dr. Moss’s Liquid Bait System®. Both are formulated as sweet, liquid baits which certain types of ants often prefer. When placing liquid ant baits indoors, the bait can be confined in a shallow film or pill container cap, inside 1-inch lengths of cut plastic straws, or on the back (non-sticky side) of masking tape placed along ant trails, but away from children and pets. Replenish daily until activity ceases.

Educational programs of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

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