Ant insecticides come in a variety of forms including sprays, baits, granules and liquids. Each one is designed to tackle a different pest issue.
Baits – For controlling ants inside your home, a bait is the best option for long-term control. They can be broadcast or applied as individual mound treatments and they contain ingredients that target ants at the source of the infestation.
The type of bait you use determines how fast it works and how long it will last. Some baits, such as indoxacarb, hydramethylnon, and spinosad, are very fast acting. Other types, such as abamectin and fenoxycarb, are slow-acting but longer-lasting.
Choosing an Effective Bait:
Most ant baits contain an insecticide plus materials that attract worker ants to the bait. These ants then carry it back to the nest where it is transferred to other ants and queens, which kill the colony.
Many ant baits are available in a liquid form, which can be used to treat areas of your home that are difficult to reach by hand or with a sprayer maurmiddel. These products often contain a combination of active ingredients such as acephate, cyfluthrin and deltamethrin.
They may be purchased at most stores, but you can also make your own baits by mixing equal parts of sugar and borax. It is important to note that these mixtures are odorless and are safe around children and pets.
In addition to a bait, you can also use a spray that is designed to kill ants on contact. This product has an odorless formula and is easy to apply. It is recommended that you follow label directions to avoid affecting nearby wildlife or people.
Baits, however, are not an alternative to a liquid insecticide for eliminating an ant mound. The liquid insecticide needs to be diluted with water before drenching the entire mound. It is important to apply a solution that reaches all of the galleries within the mound and to follow label directions for mixing and application.
Dry Mound Treatments – The most common way to control fire ants is to apply a dry mound treatment containing acephate or another organophosphate as the active ingredient. These granular treatments can be sprinkled around an ant mound or sprayed directly on the mound and can be very effective.
For mounds that are difficult to reach, you can use a liquid product that contains the same type of insecticide as the dry mound treatments. For example, a solution that contains bifenthrin and cyfluthrin can be used as a dry mound treatment or diluted with water to spray the mound.
Other effective ant mound treatments include acephate, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin and lambda cyhalothrin. These products do not have the odor of acephate and can be used to control fire ants that are in homes or that have been transported from elsewhere.
Other methods to eliminate ants, such as applying diatomaceous earth or borax, are less expensive and can be done at your own convenience. They are less toxic and do not irritate your nose or skin, but they do not work as well.