Pest Control Ants

Ant treatments

Ant treatments typically use a combination of ant baits and sprays to gain control. The articles in this category are more focused on general techniques for ant control and the use of sprays in ant control programs, ant bait articles are grouped in their own category. A good starting point is to check out the article on the top 10 tips for treating ants.

Repellent v non-repellent sprays

Older pyrethroid insecticides whilst effective at killing ants on contact, they have an excitatory / repellent action which means ants behave very differently when sprayed. They also work very quickly. As a result, such sprays are not particularly effective in getting rid of an ant problem as they generally only kill the ants that are spray and don’t kill the nest (unless it is sprayed directly). In addition, this excitatory / repellent effect means they cannot be used in conjunction with baits, which require the ants to behave and forage normally.

The newer non-repellent sprays have revolutionised ant control, allowing the combination of ant sprays and baits in the same treatment program. Fipronil based sprays have been particularly effective and are sometimes used on their own. These non-repellent sprays have a slower mode of action and can be transferred between nest mates as they interact, magnifying their effect. In some cases, it is possible for this transfer effect to lead to elimination of the nest, even when the nest cannot be located.

Invasive ant control programs

Governments are often involved in large scale ant control programs to control invasive ant species. Control programs focused on red imported fire ants are managed by many governments in different countries around the world. These programs typically use large quantities of granular ant baits.

More information on ants and a range of article on ant baits.