longer lasting ant control made easy chapter 1 section ii – general pest control basics of the...

Longer Lasting Ant Control Made Easy

Chapter 1Section 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

• Ineffective Ant Control is the number #1 reason for Professional Pest Control Operator Migraine Headaches

• Ants have become THE pest we are most often called to control and then called back to control….again and again


Overview

• Of the 10,000 species of ants in the world, only about a dozen are of concern to professional pest control operators in any one geographic area.


Tramp Ants- Which species?

• Acrobat

• Argentine

• Big Headed

• Carpenter

• Crazy

• Ghost

• Imported Fire

• Odorous House

• Pavement

• Pharaoh

• White footed


Common Characteristics Of Tramp Ants

1. Normally Nest Outside2. Complex Social Structure Centered Around

Queen(s)3. Small Portion of Colony Forages for Food4. Large Populations that may Share a Territory

with Several Other Colonies of the Same Species5. Very Mobile and Will Relocate the Entire Colony

if Disturbed6. Opportunistic Colonizers of Structures7. Chemically Sensitive – Rely on Scent trails for

Foraging –Easily RepelledCopyright @ 2005-2006, Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Identify the Ant

• Use “Identification Keys” available from Suppliers, Universities, Trade Association or Reference Books

• Identify Likely Nesting Sites

• Identify Preferred Food Type


Inspect• Begin Inspection Outside, Look for:

– Trails

– Nesting Sites

– Water Sources

– Trees & Shrubs with Aphid & Scale Infestation

– Obvious Entryways into the Structure

– Identify Physical Changes Needed, i.e.. Plant Trimming, Window Caulking, Drain Cleaning, etc.

• Speak to Customer

– Identify areas of concern

– Find out Where & When Ants are Active

• Follow Trails to Entryways or Nests

• Identify Potential Food & Water Sources


Communication

• Review Inspection Results With The Customer

• Gain Customer Cooperation in:

– Removing Plants and Trees Touching Structure

– Cleaning Clogged Gutters

– Sealing & Caulking Potential Entryways

• Inform Customer of Your Treatment Plan

• Give a Realistic Assessment of Expected Results With a Realistic Time Frame


Ants Will Come Back Unless

• Ants are Physically Excluded by Structural Changes

• Attractive Sites Are Removed

• A Continuing Control Program is Established


Barrier Treatments On the Structure With Residual Pesticides

• Give Temporary Relief• Can Trap Ants Inside a Structure and Force Them to Nest

Indoors• Large Colonies May Split into Several Smaller Colonies• Ants may be Forced to change Their Foraging Patterns• They May Then Pop Up in Unexpected Areas that Were

Previously Unaffected


Residual Treatments Outside

• Should Be Used to Eliminate Food Sources or Nesting Sites such as;– Aphids & Scales that Produce Honeydew for Sweet

Feeding Ants– Ant Mounds Near the Structure– Decaying Trees or Tree Stumps Near the Structure


Residual Treatments Within A Structure

• Locating And Treating the Nest(s) is always the preferred technique

• Untargeted Spraying Can: – Give Temporary Relief– Cause the Colony to Splinter into Smaller, Scattered

Colonies– Repel the Ants to New Foraging Locations


A Plan For Treating Tramp Ants

1. Effective Use of Good Sanitation Practices

2. Elimination of Food & Water Sources In and Around the Structure

3. Treatment of Nests and Nesting Sites

4. The Effective use of Toxic Ant Baits


Locating The Colony (Nest) with Baits

• Small Bait Placements Around Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windowsills, and Hanging on Plants and Trees Near the Structure

• We May Make 25 or More Placements in an Effort to Locate the Nest(s)

• We May Use Several Different Bait Materials Until We Find the One That They Prefer.


Placing The Baits

• We Recommend Using The “Ant Café” Reusable Insect Bait Station.

• The “Ant Café” is Versatile, Easy to Use and Inexpensive

Under An Eave, Behind the Fascia

Attached To Conduit or Pipe

Grouped for Larger Placement W/Different Baits


The Ant Café 1. Fill With Liquid, Gel or Granular Bait

2. Keep Baits Fresher Longer (Liquid Bait Stays Fresh For Up to 3 Weeks

3. Place and Move Easily

4. Secure to a Wall With Double Sided Tape

5. Lock to Prevent Tampering

6. Hang in Trees

7. Prevent accidental ingestion by Children & Pets

8. Secure to a Wall With Double Sided Tape

9. Lock to Prevent Tampering

10. Can Be Hung in Trees

11. Designed to prevent accidental ingestion by children and pets


Baits Must:1. Be of a Type and Consistency That is Attractive to the Target

Species

2. Remain Attractive Long Enough to be Found and Transported Back to the Nest

3. Be Available in Large Enough Quantity to Effect the Entire Colony

4. Kill Slowly Enough, To allow The Bait to be Brought Back to the Colony

5. Be of a Nature That the Insecticide will Cause the Death or Sterilization of the Queen(s)


Which Bait is Best?

• For Faster Results Inside a Structure Use Baits Containing:– Hydramethylnon, Sulfuramid, Fipronil or 5+%

Boric Acid

• For Colony Elimination, Where Multiple Colonies Exist or Reinfestation is Likely Use Baits Containing 1% Boric Acid


Baiting For Colony Elimination

• Choose Sites Close to the Suspected Nest(s). (Determined by Monitoring With Ant Café)

• Use Large Amounts of Baits

• Keep Bait Fresh and Protected From the Environment With a Good Bait Station Like the “Ant & Roach Café”


The Ant & Roach Café

1. Keeps Bait Fresh for 4 Weeks or more

2. Holds Up to 4 ½ Ounces of Liquid Bait

3. Use With Liquid, Gel or Granular Bait

4. 3 Separate Compartments Allows the Use of Sweet Baits, Protein Bait and Fatty Baits at One Time In Case Feeding Preferences Change

5. Can be Locked with Flat Locking Tie

6. Entryways Adjust to Allow Large Ants and Roaches to Enter Easily

7. Can Be Secured Outside with Landscaping Spike

8. Can Be Secured To a Wall with Screws


Problems With Baiting

1. Ants Can Change Feeding Preferences

2. Baiting Takes Time To Be Effective

3. Baiting Can Be Expensive if You Don’t Take Steps to Control Costs


Advantages of Baiting

1. Eliminating the Colony Cuts Down Complaint Services

2. Targeted Baiting Can Be More Cost Effective Than Broadcast Spraying

3. Baiting Preserves Beneficial Insects in the Environment, Keeping Pests in Balance


Troubleshooting Baiting Problems1. Ants Seen- Bait Not Eaten

– Wrong Type of Bait– Competitive Food Available– Contamination of Bait– Insecticide Residues on Bait– Bait Material Stale

2. Ants Taking Bait But Still Active– Baits Take Time to Work Be

Patient– Insufficient Bait Applied– Reinfestation by Neighboring

Colony– Changes in Weather Effecting

Feeding Behavior

3. Ants Are Seen in Areas Other Than Near the Bait

– Change in Feeding Preference

– Repelled by Insecticide or Other Odors

– Satellite Colonies

– Displaced by Another Species of Ant

– Nest Disturbed and Moved To Another Site


Troubleshooting Baiting- Solutions

1. Replace Baits with Fresh Uncontaminated Baits and Stations – Wash Used Stations Thoroughly With Non-Perfume Soap and Warm Water

2. Try a Different Bait- Rotate between Sweets, Protein and Fatty Baits, and Between Liquids, Gels and Granules

3. Move the Stations to Areas of Highest Activity and Rotate the Baits as above


Summary:Longer Lasting Ant Control Can be a Reality if You:• Foster Realistic Expectations in Your Customer• Gain Their Cooperation• Encourage Good Sanitation Practices• Use All the Tools at Your Disposal• Bait First, and Spray Only When You Know Where the

Ants are Nesting, or to Eliminate an Exterior Food Source


longer lasting ant control made easy chapter 1 section ii – general pest control basics of the...

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