Longer Lasting Ant Control Made Easy Chapter 1 Section II – General Pest Control Basics of the Pest Bear & Affiliates Service Personnel Development Program , 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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Tramp Ants- Which species? Acrobat Argentine Big Headed Carpenter Crazy Ghost Imported Fire Odorous House Pavement Pharaoh White footed , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Common Characteristics Of Tramp Ants 1.Normally Nest Outside 2.Complex Social Structure Centered Around Queen(s) 3.Small Portion of Colony Forages for Food 4.Large Populations that may Share a Territory with Several Other Colonies of the Same Species 5.Very Mobile and Will Relocate the Entire Colony if Disturbed 6.Opportunistic Colonizers of Structures 7.Chemically Sensitive – Rely on Scent trails for Foraging –Easily Repelled , 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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Ants Will Come Back Unless Ants are Physically Excluded by Structural Changes Attractive Sites Are Removed A Continuing Control Program is Established , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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) , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Problems With Baiting 1.Ants Can Change Feeding Preferences 2.Baiting Takes Time To Be Effective 3.Baiting Can Be Expensive if You Dont Take Steps to Control Costs , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

Troubleshooting Baiting Problems 1.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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved

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 , Central Fla Duplicating, Inc. All rights reserved