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Ant Control

Imported Fire Ant

Ants are wondrous creatures and one of the most successful animals on earth. In nature, ants are a prime food source for many animals. They aerate more soil than the earthworm, they have taken advantage of every conceivable environmental niche and can be found in every region of the world except the polar caps.

Ants are successful because they are social insects often forming complex colonies. Certain species of ants are specialized in their behavior, for example, living on only one type of tree. Many other species are very adaptable and exploit numerous different living environments and food sources.

The presence of ants in nature ensures the health of the natural environment. In homes and other buildings, however, ants are not so welcome. The same reasons ants are successful in nature makes them very well suited to sharing man's living quarters.

Structures can be threatened by damage from carpenter ants. Pharaoh ants can carry disease organisms. The stings of fire ants can threaten a person's health.

Basics of Ant Control

Controlling ants in structures need not be so difficult. To be successful, you must follow a few basic rules:

Identify the ant of ants involved.

Perform a thorough inspection.

Determine where the ant colonies are located.

Treat the ant colonies directly.

It is not always possible to find where the ant colony is located. In this case, bait insecticides can be effective.

The pharoah ant is controlled almost exclusivley with baits. Other ants, such as carpenter ants and crazy ants are very difficult, if not impossible, to control using baits.

Too much reliance on baits to control ants can often lead to failure in your treatment. Finding and treating ant colonies directly provides the best results.

The Hunt Begins

Control of an ant infestation depends on finding and treating the colony. Different ants have different preferences on where to live. This is why identification is so important. Knowledge of an ant's biology provides clues on where to look.

Time-Saving Tips

Practicing a few proven field tips can save time in uncovering the source of an infestation.

CARPETS - Most pest ants like to trail under the edge of carpets. Inspect along the walls under the carpet beside the tack strip. A good place to start is in front of fireplaces and sliding glass doors. When foraging ants are found, try to trail them back to their colony location.

FOUNDATIONS - When ants are found inside along exterior walls, look for colonies living in the soil beside the foundation.

VEGETATION - Ants like to nest and forage in trails out of sight behind any vegetation which rests against foundations, patios, etc. Pull back the vegetation to look for ants. Attempt to follow foraging ants back to their colony.

GROUND SURFACES - Any item sitting on the ground could harbor a colony of ants. Check under all items, especially those near the foundation.

MULCH - Mulch often harbors numerous colonies of ants such as pavement ants, fire ants, crazy ants and Argentine ants. Rake mulch back from the foundation to check for colonies.

Ant Control and General Treatment Tips

Once all the ant colonies have been located, they need to be treated directly with insecticides. The techniques used depends on where the colony is located. A colony in a wall void is treated differently than one living under a rock outside. Colony location also determines the type of insecticide needed.

OUTSIDE - Carry a compressed air sprayer when inspecting for ant colonies outside. As you locate small ant colonies along foundations, under items, etc., they can be quickly drenched a with a liquid insecticide.

When numerous ant colonies are found living in the mulch of landscape beds, treatment with a power spray unit or broadcast baiting is required. For best results, the mulch should be raked to expose the colonies.

Perimeter treatments of building foundations with a liquid insecticide will help prevent outdoor foraging ants from entering.

INSIDE - Ant colonies located inside wall voids should be treated using dust or aerosol insecticide formulations. Sometimes it is necessary to treat trails of foraging ants. Outside and inside, these trails can be treated with spot applications of liquid insecticide. If ants are found foraging under the edge of carpets, however, they are most easily treated using a dust insecticide formulation.

Ant Control and Specific Treatment Tips

Fire Ants

1/4" - 1/2" inch, reddish brown, different sizes of workers

There are 3 species of fire ants that are common to Texas. The red imported fire ant, the imported fire ant, and southern fire ants. Fire ants are a significant health threat due to their stings. Regular outdoor applications to lawns and foundations are often necessary because reinfestion from neighboring properties is common. The key to fire ant control is to locate all mounds and treat them. Mounds can be treated by drenching with liquid insecticides or by bait. Application of fire ant bait to the entire lawn helps limit reinfestation of treated areas. A perimeter application of a liquid insecticide helps to prevent their entry into homes. In slab foundations, fire ants can nest indoors in wall voids by entering the structure from below and following plumbing lines in. Bath traps, shower stalls, and hot water heater walls are particularly well suited areas for fire ants.

Carpenter Ants

Minor workers 1/4" inch, Major workers 1/2 inch", tan, red, black

Carpenter ants can only be controlled by finding and treating their colonies located in wall voids and wood. Drilling and dusting of infested walls and voids is about the only method that is successful in this situation. These ants do not respond well to baits. In areas where carpenter ants are abundant, perimeter treatments with a liquid insecticide help prevent ants from entering. Applications to the base of trees where colonies are located are also helpful.

Acrobat Ants

1/8" inch, tan, red, workers all same size

Acrobat Ants are similar to carpenter ants but are much smaller in size. They nest in old carpenter ant galleries, termite galleries, in voids and in insulation. The key to identifying acrobat ants is to look for a heart shaped abdomen that is often raised well above the main body. This raising of the abdomen is a defensive mechanism that acrobat ants use to fend off their enemy.

Pharoah Ants

1/16" inch, yellow, reddish brown, workers all same size

Pharoah ants can only be effectively controlled through a comprehensive baiting program. Treatment with liquid insecticides actually makes the infestation worse by causing the ants to "bud" or "split" into several smaller satellite colonies. There are many excellent baits on the market for pharoah ant control. The more successful baits contain pulverized silk worm cocoons as an attractant. They also contain a slow acting poison that gives the worker ants time to get back to the colony and feed them. The silk worm cocoon seems to be one of the only attractants for pharoah that works. Again, it must be emphasized that spraying makes pharoah ants worse.

Little Black Ants

1/16" inch, black, workers all same size

Little black ants most often forage inside structures from colonies located outside. Treatment along foundations, and around windows are helpful in preventing foraging ants from entering.

Pavement Ants

1/8" inch, workers all same size

Pavement ants like to nest next to and under sidewalks and other types of slabs. They often enter buildings through expansion joints in slabs. Application of insecticides through these cracks may help in controlling the colony beneath. In severe infestations, a slab floor may need to be drilled and treated by pumping chemical underneath with a specially equipped sprayer. Outside perimeter treatments are helpful in preventing reinfestation.

Crazy Ants

3/8" inch, unusually fast moving, workers all same size

Crazy ants are one of the most difficult ants to control in structures. Their colonies are often numerous and they are aggresive foragers. Perimeter treatments with a liquid insecticide are helpful where crazy ant colonies are abundant outdoors. Baits are not effective against crazy ants.

Odorous House Ants

1/8" inch, brown color, workers all same size

Odorous house ants get their name from the fact that the workers give off a distinct odor, smelling like rotten coconuts, when crushed. They commonly build shallow nests in soil under items such as stones, logs, patio blocks, and debris. Inside they will commonly nest in wall voids, particularly around hot water heaters and hot water pipes. Outside perimeter treatments are especially helpful. Odorous house ants love sweet baits containing sugar and or honey.

If you need help in identifying an ant problem not listed, please call. We'll give you specific treatment advice, as well as information on our services.

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