Ants continue to be a major problem for PMPs across the country . Although small in size, ants can be quite challenging to control. Ants congregate in large numbers and exhibit complex behaviors. Further, ants live in multiplex colony structures, which makes controlling them even more laborious. MGK offers expertise for successful ant control, providing you with the necessary knowledge and tools needed to combat your ant problem — big or small.
Inspection is Key
To begin, ant identification is a critical component to successful ant control. If general exterior pest treatments are not effective at keeping ants out of a structure, it is imperative to identify the ant species at hand, as some ant species require different treatments than others. For example, pharaoh ants and certain thief ant species look remarkably similar, but require vastly different treatments. Some ants prefer soil dwellings, while other ants nest both inside and outside of a structure. Also, while some ants respond well to sugar baits, other ants prefer granular baits, so it critical to keep an eye on what bait is most effective.
Treatment Recommendations
While on the topic of treatments, tawny crazy ants tend to be the species that is most challenging to treat. In regions where they nest, they will often cover the entirety of the landscape. While trailing ants can be observed, many move through the environment in an apparently disorganized, erratic manner. In bad infestations, the sheer number of ants present requires using large volumes of material, and subsequently increases both material and labor costs. This is especially true of houses and commercial buildings surrounded by undeveloped land throughout the southeast.
Different Ants Bring Different Problems
As you can see, not all ants should be treated equally. Argentine ants tend to be a problematic ant species to treat. Often, general service fails to keep Argentine ants out of a structure. If you can relate to this, it’s typically because of two reasons:
- The ant population is extremely high
- The ants have discovered a discreet entry point to inside
Given that Argentine ants nest almost exclusively outdoors, it is essential to use a combination of non-repellent residual sprays to treat off-structure trails and exterior baiting.
Know Your Actives
Active ingredients are another important topic to cover when it comes to successful ant control, specifically, liquid residual sprays. If you’re dealing with ants entering the structure from outside, a fast-acting pyrethroid is most effective at keeping ants out. On the other hand, for larger ant populations, slower-acting active ingredients, like neonicotinoids or phenylpyrazoles, allow for more contact with the treated area, resulting in an increased population reduction.
Consider Baiting Outside
For maximized ant control, in most cases, it is critical to bait outside. There are situations where it is necessary to bait inside. In fact, there are accounts that require interior baiting, or species where interior residual sprays and baits are the only viable option.
Most often, however, the problem comes from the exterior landscape, not inside. If you bait inside you continue to attract them indoors, which is counterproductive to what you are trying to accomplish. By baiting outside you reduce the distance needed to move bait back into colonies, and lure ants back outside. After all, ants typically migrate inside in search of food and water.
Success Starts With Sumari
MGK’s Sumari System can help you conquer your toughest ant problems. The Sumari System is a comprehensive ant control solution. Designed to work in tandem, Sumari® Insecticide concentrate and Sumari ® Ant Gel Bait delivers an attract-and-kill approach that reaches deep into the colony, providing long-lasting control through direct contact and ingestion.
We recommend applying Sumari Insecticide to areas where ants are actively foraging/trailing and placing Sumari® Ant Gel Bait over or around areas treated with the concentrate. Ants are attracted to the bait, which leads to more contact with the non-repellent concentrate.
This complete ant control solution was created specifically for PMPs. During development, the MGK team worked directly with PMPs to identify several challenging areas within ant control that were lacking in current product offerings on the market. Boasting flexible labels, long-lasting control, transfer effect and no signal word, only Sumari brings together the features critical for improved ant control.
Sumari System can be used to treat all ant species, including multi-queen species, except for fire ants and carpenter ants. While we recommend the complete system for optimal performance, the products are effective on their own. Remember to always read and follow the label instructions.
