Summer weather is here, which means PMPs are starting to receive a lot of calls about ants marching through their kitchens. While the key to successful control is staying ahead of thesepests before populations start to get out of control during the summer months, that is not always possible. Envu Professional Pest Management has a few important steps to follow to help PMPs control these difficult pests.
- Carefully identify the correct species during inspection. One of the reasons ants are so difficult to control is that there are many different species and their behaviors can vary greatly. The Envu ant identification guide will help PMPs determine the species they need to control so that they know food preferences and can communicate potential risks to the customer. For example, while carpenter ants do not eat wood like termites, they can pose a risk to structures. They chew wood to expand their colony site and dispose of the excavated wood as frass. PMPs might observe the discarded frass close to nest sites. There are dozens of other common types of ant species, so it is important to follow the ant identification guide closely and reach out to an Envu representative for assistance in choosing the right solution and applying it in a way to achieve maximum effectiveness.
- Use Maxforce ® solutions to eliminate guesswork and achieve maximum control. After identifying the species with the Envu ant identification guide, the PMP will know more about the preferences and behaviors of this nuisance pest. From there, Envu usually recommends applying a bait (always read and follow all label instructions). Baits are typically the most effective and targeted treatment method because a technician can apply the bait to a few specific locations. From there, the ants will collect bait and share it with their colony. Using baits as close as possible to nest sites and outdoor entry sites allows them to “intercept” the ants before they travel where customers may see them. One of the key benefits of using a bait is that a sufficient amount of bait will ensure cross-feeding and exposure back to the queen(s) and brood in the nest sites. The question for pest management professionals is which type of bait to use. Envu has several options for baits:
- Maxforce® Fleet ant bait gel is powerful ant control that works inside and outside. The thicker formula stands up where you need it. It is long-lasting and fast-acting. Studies show it is one of the most attractive baits to a wide range of ant species, including acrobat ant, Argentine ant, big-headed ant, carpenter ant, cornfield ant, field honey ant, odorous house ant, pavement ant, pharaoh ant and
thief ant. - Maxforce® Quantum ant bait gel offers economical ant control that lasts from one quarterly service visit to the next. Unlike ant bait gels that begin to lose moisture immediately, its hydroscopic formula retains and absorbs moisture to keep it attractive to ants for up to three months. It is safe to use in areas where food is prepared, and it’s effective on acrobat ants, Argentine ants, big-headed ants, black garden ants, crazy ants, ghost ants, little black ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, rover ants, thief ants and white-footed ants (always read and follow all label instructions).
- Maxforce® Complete granular insect bait controls a wide variety of ant species, plus other pests. The ingredients combined with the delayed-action kill of the active ingredient eliminates ant colonies through the exclusive Maxforce Domino Effect®. It controls acrobat ants, Argentine ants, big-headed ants, carpenter ants, cornfield ants, crazy ants, field ants, ghost ants, harvester ants, odorous house ants and pavement ants, plus cockroaches, crickets, silverfish, firebrats and earwigs.
- Communicate clearly with customers. Baits are the best practice, so it is essential to communicate clearly with customers how the process will work. First, they should understand that they may see some increased activity immediately before the population is reduced. Customers may be used to seeing technicians apply sprays, so it can help ease any concerns to outline for them how baits draw the population out before the active ingredient works to eliminate the colony. Second, customers should know it is likely that the infestation has already been there for quite a while. Treatments may take time, so providing customers with a timeline can help them.
- Apply other treatment methods as needed. With sprays, dusts and baits, there are plenty of control options available for PMPs. During the spring and early summer months, ant populations are searching for protein because the queen needs the nutrition from proteins to create eggs before the middle of summer. This is why baits are so successful. There is a place for dusts and sprays, too. A quarterly preventative spray can keep colonies away from the home. Dusts are great for cracks, crevices and voids that are difficult to reach.
Our team at Envu is eager to help pest management professionals achieve the best results possible by providing industry-leading expertise and recommending the most effective products
for any given situation.
For more information about ant control with Envu, visit our website.
ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS.
Environmental Science U.S. LLC, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary, NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. www.envu.com. Not all products are registered in all states. Domino Effect®, Envu, the Envu logo and Maxforce® are trademarks owned by Environmental Science U.S. LLC or one of its affiliates. ©2023 Environmental Science U.S. LLC.
Authored by:
Matt Remmen
Technical Market Development Manager, Envu Professional Pest Management
