Ant Food Preferences: The Key to Solving Difficult Problems Philip G. Koehler Margie and Dempsey Sapp Endowed Professor of Urban Entomology University of Florida

Ants vs Cockroaches Ants –Queen –Males –Workers –Larvae Cockroaches –Females –Males –Nymphs

This is a Queen!!!

And This is a Winged Queen.

Thousands of Queens!!

Concepts of Baiting Placement so that ants find them Particles small enough for small ants Foods that ants prefer Slow acting poisons to allow trophallaxis (regurgitation and feeding others)

Bait 3-4 days 1-5 months

Multiple Queens cause most Failures Bait X X Pharaoh Ghost White-footed Fire ant Argentine XX

Food Preference Sweet feeders -- climb shrubs and trees for honeydew Protein feeders -- on porches and window ledges feeding on dead insects attracted to lights Lipid (oil) feeders -- in lawns feeding on seeds Do not consume wood

Foods Sugar Peanut oil Crickets

Bait by Ant Food Preference Sweet feeders— baits for these ants contain sugars or syrups Protein feeders— made of ground silkworm pupae Lipid feeders— usually contain peanut butter or soybean oil

Baits ProteinSugar Oil

Pharaoh Ant = Window ledges

Break Area with Ant Foraging on Table

Break Area with Ants Foraging on Counter

Office with Ants Foraging in Papers

Window Ledges surround Entire Building Window ledge

Courtyard

Window Ledge next to Shrubs

Pharaoh Ant Trail on Window Ledge

Food Sources placed on Counter in Break Area

Food Sources placed on Desk in Office

Food Sources placed on Window Ledge

Food Sources on Counter 45 Minutes Later 0 ants

Food Sources on Office Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants3 ants1 ant

3 ants 1 ant Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants

Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants19 ants15 ants

Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants 19 ants 15 ants

Counter in Break Area 45 Minutes Later 0 ants

Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants17 ants7 ants

Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants13 ants12 ants

Window Ledge 13 ants 53 ants

Total Pharaoh Ants at Food and Baits Break counterOffice deskWindow ledge

Primarily feed on dead insects on window sills, ledges, and porches. Also, feed on sugars and oils. Can be controlled by baiting at windows and porches without even entering house. Pharaoh Ant Summary

Crazy Ants = Sweets

Loading Dock Area Crazy ant nest

Back Entrance Next to Loading Dock Crazy ant nest Soda cans

Nest Entrance Next to Wall

Foods Placed Next to Wall on Loading Dock

Food on Loading Dock 45 Minutes Later 30 ants0 ants

Sucrose

Crazy Ants 42 ants 0 ants

Crazy Ant Summary Feed on sweets. Like to nest under slabs and other protected areas. Placement of sweet baits close to nest guarantees control.

Carpenter ants = Trees and voids

Daytime Inspection of Business Office

Sticky traps help pinpoint areas of activity 8 ants Drink cups

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Are they entering for water?

Daytime Inspection of Business Office 8 ants

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Water also is available in potted plants 6 ants

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Greatest number of ants caught next to copier 12 ants

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Looks like areas where ants leave the building, there are a few dead ants on the ledge

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Ant bone-yard on window track

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Trees look like potential harborage sites

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Particularly hollows and tree holes

Daytime Inspection of Business Office Holes in caulk look like nest sites

Night-time Inspection of Business Office Ants on floors and on papers

Night-time Inspection of Business Office

Ants leaving through window behind copier and crawling along window ledge

Night-time Inspection of Window Ledge

Ants Entering Hole in Caulk

Carpenter Ant Nests Nest entrance Nest entrance Nest entrance Main Nest entrance Satellite Nest

Foods Placed Next to Copier

Food Sources 2 hours later Empty Some leftUntouched

Restocked Food Sources 4 ants 0 ants

Baits Next to Copier 20 minutes later 3 ants0 ants

Solution to Carpenter Ant Problem

Carpenter Ant Summary Prefer sweets and dead insects. Night-time inspections critical for control. Find and destroy nest.

Ghost Ant = Trails

Ghost Ants in Whitefly Rearing Laboratory Sweet potato whitefly on sweet potato

Corner beside Whitefly Chamber

Drop Ceiling above Whitefly Chamber Entrance to nest

Food in Corner next to Whitefly Chamber

Ants on Baits Ghost ants do not forage far from trails Cricket right on trail Sucrose far from trail 0 ants9 ants

Ants on Cricket

Foods have to be Placed Right on Ghost Ant Trail 21 ants

Baits in Corner

Ghost Ants on Bait 87 ants 0 ants

Ghost Ant Summary Feed on sugars and dead insects. Very strong trail followers, and baits must be placed right on trail. Follow trails to nest.

Fire Ants = Mounds in Lawn

Nest near Trees in Landscape

Nest next to Greenhouse

Fire Ants next to Front Entrance

Fire Ants next to Doorway to Office

Fire Ants in Hallway Weather seal in window is destroyed Ant bait station in hall Termite swarmer

Nests near Greenhouses

Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse

Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 5 Minutes Later 4 ants 78 ants 0 ants

Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 5 Minutes Later 78 ants

Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 10 Minutes Later

Baits placed next to Greenhouse

Ants Must Return to Nest to Recruit Others 5 Minutes Later Watch this ant

Baits placed next to Greenhouse 30 Minutes Later Ant is still there

Fire Ants 5 minutes30 minutes

Bait Piled on Fire Ant Mound

Broadcast Application of Fire Ant Bait

Fire Ant Summary Prefer oil based baits Broadcast applications of baits are most efficient.

Summary of Ant Feeding Pharaoh ant ** *** * Crazy ant *** Ghost ant *** ** Carpenter ant *** ** Fire ant * ** *** SugarProteinOil

Sugar = Honeydew Aphids Mealybugs

Pyrocantha near Entrance to Building Ants

Shrubs Surrounding Structure

Block Ant Access to Aphids Aphids Sticky barriers Residual Insecticides Foliar sprays Baits Soil drench or injection Ghost ants

Imidacloprid (Merit) a systemic that kills honeydew-producing insects on plants Foliar Sprays

Barriers Applied to Bark of Trees and Shrubs Residual insecticide barriers Sticky Barriers –Tak-trap Insecticide or sticky barrier

Baits Placed below Barriers on Bark Insecticide or sticky barrier Bait system

Baits Placed Below Barrier Insecticide or sticky barrier Bait system

Aphids Tree and shrub imidacloprid drench to kill sucking insects Soil drench Imidacloprid Translocation from roots

Soil Injection or Drench with Imidacloprid Soil injection Drench

Fire Ant Carpenter Ant Big-headed Ant Acrobat Ant Ghost Ant Pharaoh Ant Argentine Ant White-footed Ant Crazy Ant Perimeter Residual Barriers

Treat Ant Nesting Sites: Voids