Smart use of a broad spectrum insecticide can keep pest ants outdoors where they belong. For the majority of customers, be they homeowners or business owners, ants only become a problem when they come inside. Although there are some...

Smart use of a broad spectrum insecticide can keep pest ants outdoors where they belong.

For the majority of customers, be they homeowners or business owners, ants only become a problem when they come inside. Although there are some variations in control methods depending on species, some general application methods should be followed to ensure the inside of a building remains an ant free zone.

As with all pest treatments, an initial inspection before starting an ant control program is key. Not only to identify the species present, but to try and determine the location of the nest or nests and identify all the entry points into the building.

If the nest is found to be inside the building, a direct nest application is sometimes possible, but generally the use of baits is the preferred control method. Bait should be placed along foraging trails and in other locations where the ants are active. The use of bait stations is often a good idea and also allows the bait to be easily moved to different locations if required.

For nests outside the building a different approach is required. If the nest can be located, a direct nest injection is an option. If the nest cannot be located, baiting should be considered as part of the treatment as it will eliminate any nests, reducing the ant pressure on the property. The selection of the appropriate bait for the species present will maximise success. Granular baits can be a good option for broadcast treatment, while gel or liquid baits will need to be placed along foraging trails. The use of bait stations will help to protect the bait from the elements.

However, whether the nest is inside or outside the building, the customer expectation is for ants to be eliminated from inside the building and for the inside of the building to remain ant free for a period of time (to avoid a callback). As such, a correctly applied perimeter treatment is an essential element of an ant control program.

An external perimeter treatment, as its name describes, is a treatment applied around the perimeter of the building. A key element of this treatment is to apply a band of insecticide both up and out from the base of the exterior walls. Critical to the success of this treatment is making sure this treated zone extends out to a suitable distance from the base of the wall. For a product like Temprid75, Envu recommends creating a band up to three metres wide. It is also important to treat around all doors and windows, cracks and other potential ant entry points. Any ant trails on the outside walls should also be treated.

Of course, choice of product is also important, and the combination of Temprid75 and Maxforce Quantum Liquid Ant Bait from Envu offers pest managers some very real advantages for ant control programs in both residential and commercial settings.

Temprid75, with its combination of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid means it has both repellent and nonrepellent action against ants. As a perimeter treatment for ants it means it works as an effective perimeter treatment in two ways – either the ants are repelled by the pyrethroid or when the repellency wears off they walk across the treated surface and are controlled by the neonicotinoid. Either way, the ants are kept out of the building.

In addition, the broad use label of Temprid75 means pest managers can use Temprid75 in a wide range of situations against a wide range of pests; it can be used both inside and outside buildings and even on ornamental plants. This can be particularly useful in ant control programs as it can be used to control aphids and other honeydew-producing bugs on plants, which are a major source of food for many ant species. Eliminating these pests can be an effective part of an overall ant management program, as well as maintaining the health of the plants too.

Although Maxforce Quantum is labelled as a liquid ant bait, it is actually quite viscous so in many situations it can be placed as a gel. With the Maxforce Quantum formulation using patented HVL Technology, the bait retains moisture and remains attractive for a minimum of eight weeks after application. This can be particularly useful in commercial accounts as the bait placements will remain attractive between service visits.

With both products HACCP certified, Temprid75 and Maxforce Quantum make an ideal combination for use in food management facilities as well as residential accounts.

For pest managers wanting to keep their ant knowledge up to speed, they can access educational courses for free through the Envu Australia website. Ant courses include Ant Identification Guide and Elimination and Envu Best Practice Procedure Training – Ants.

Further information on accessing these courses can be found on the Envu Australia website.

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