Ants!

[AzJim]

Hello... Well its that time of the year again. Ant's! Yep they are alive and well here in the sunny state of Arizona.

What is the best Ant killer on the market? I am getting questions from potential customers about what I use. Is there something that specifically will kill the queen?

A specific customer has 3 small ant mounds that she states were there last year. She treated them with a store bought ant killer (something to kill the queen). However, they are back again this year. She says she gets about 4 to 5 ants walking on her kitchen counter a day (close to the sink). Any ideas on how to get ride of those nasty things?

Thanks.
AzJim

[Ric]

reply

AzJim

First question I got to ask is are you licensed to apply insecticides inside as well as outside. Most state has different licenses for each. Fines for illegal pest control in my state can be heavy.

Without knowing what variety of ant you are dealing with it is hard to tell you what your customer should use. Some ants are sugar ants and other are grease ants etc. Terro Ant Bait can be purchased at most supermarkets and works great. However you must understand how it works. It is a slow poison that must go thru the food chain to get to the Queen(s). This might take 5 to 10 weeks.

Below is COPY & PASTE of a reply I made in another forum to a similar question about fire ants.



Texas A & M developed a Fire Ant Program called the "Texas Two Step" I have found it to be very successful. Sorry I don't have there website URL but you may find via search engine.

STEP #1 Ant baits are applied over the entire property to be treated. If the weather is between 70-90 degrees worker ants carry the bait back to the nest and into the food chain. If the weather is not between 70-90 degrees then the colony will be inactive. Monogyne colonies (single Queen) (reddish color) will be easier to control than Pologyne colonies (20-60 Queens)(orangish-brown color) and may require more treatment. It is important to remember that after mating Queens can fly 12 miles and their nests do not become visible for up to 3-4 months. Baits are effective during this time. Baits containing Hydramethylnon work in 1-5 weeks and kill all members of the colony. Baits containing Fenoxycarb or Abamectin stop egg production and take 5-10 weeks to kill all members of the colony.

STEP#2a Spot treat all visible mounds 2-3 days after applying bait and keep customer happy

Step# 2b Apply general insecticide treatment to stop forging ants and keep customer happy


It costs about $15.00 to treat an acre with baits. Studies have shown that early summer application give control for up to a year on treated areas over an acre. The larger the area treated the longer the control. Once control is gained it can be maintained with bait treatments every three months on smaller properties

[AzJim]

reply

Great info!

They are red ants and unfortunatly I believe they are orangish in color. From what I read in your post I have a ton of queens to deal with.

One other thing. She said that the ants seem to come around more often in the house after a big rain. Does that really have anything to do with the rain or possibly the tempurature range you stated?

AzJim

[Ric]

reply

AzJim

You did not answer my question about being licensed. From your questions I would hope you are not. Fire Ants that I wrote about in the Copy & Pasted above are not home invaders as a general rule. Now ever if these ants are quite large they might be carpenter ants Therefore advise your customer to call a professional licensed pest control company. Explain to them they are paying for their knowledge and not for the $2.00 worth of chemicals applied. This service should cost about $500.00 for carpenter ant control.

[AzJim]

reply

Ric,

No I don't have a license. And "No" I have not applied anything to the customers property. I have only advised her on what she may have and how to possibly treat them. I also informed her that I can not legally treat them as I don't have a state license. She asked me to recommend a bug man. I said I would look into it.

Thanks for all of your help and guidance.

Any other thoughts or guidance is appreciated.

Thanks.
AzJim

[Ric]

reply

AzJim

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