Do It Yourself Pest Control

ANT INDEX

CARPENTER ANTS  PHARAOH ANTS PISSANTS   WHITE FOOTED ANT

This article deals with household ant pests.  If you have carpenter ants or wish to prevent carpenter ant infestations, go to our Carpenter Ant article.   Pharaoh ants also demand special attention.  Go to our Pharaoh Ant article for more information.   For other ants, their biology, habits and elimination methods, go to our ANT INDEX.

1)  BAIT INSIDE   Top of Page

The use of ant bait inside cupboards, closets, window sills, attics, crawl spaces and other foraging places is necessary to control nests inside your home. Dual Choice, Maxforce  or Niban FG will all work.  Some are better for certain species (when treating for Pharaoh ants, you must use Maxforce.) We have found excellent control by combining Dual Choice and Maxforce Complete.

Ants will find the bait within a day or two.  After feeding, they bring some back to their nest to feed other members in the colony.  Nurse ants, queens and larvae will all eat and die. This controls nests inside the home.  Once your indoor ant infestation is under control, you may either continue baiting or switch to a periodical spray to help control indoor pests.

2)  YARD TREATMENT   Top of Page

A Bifenthrin product or Cypermethrin  product should be broadcast around the entire home If fire ants are present, drench mounds with an approved insecticide  to quickly eliminate them. Products containing Cypermethrin are the best for mound drenching. 
When broadcasting around exterior of home or in the lawn, use a hose-end sprayer, NOT a pump type sprayer.  The idea is to think in terms of volume instead of higher concentrates.  6 to 8 ounces of concentrate will cover 4,000 to 6,000 square feet outdoors, using a hose-end sprayer.

3) SPRAY FOUNDATION  

Ant problems start because regular pest control is NOT being done.  To prevent ants, spiders, roaches, etc. from entering your home a good residual spray around the foundation and around windows, doors, fireplaces, etc. on the outside of your house is necessary.  This should be done several times a year. Some good products to choose from include Cyper WP, Cyzmic CS and D-Fense SC.   This outside spraying will stop ants from laying new scent trails leading to the inside of your home and prevent a future infestation. **