Baiting Ants Chapter 3 Section II – General Pest Control Basics of the Pest Bear & Affiliates...
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Transcript of Baiting Ants Chapter 3 Section II – General Pest Control Basics of the Pest Bear & Affiliates...
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