Ask Dr. Bug - Ants

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White footed ants are driving me crazy in my accounts. Can you give me some pointers on controlling them?

The white footed ant is an enormous challenge for the pest control industry and new products are always being tested. Most research data that I have read points to the boric acid baits as the best treatment for these particular ants. Some PCOs in Florida are having good success with an initial perimeter treatment of ornamentals to knockdown aphids, meally bugs and scale insects. This should be followed by a baiting program of Advance Liquid Ant Bait in the ACE Stations. The application of repellant products such as PT Microcare or PT Tri-Die around windows, doors and other entrances help to deter these ants from entering the structures.

Some of the challenges associated with the white-footed ant are:

(1)SUPER COLONY (numbers have been estimated in thousands to million range)
The PCO must monitor the colony regularly and replenish bait placements as needed to decrease the colony size. The use of ACE Stations due to their volume capacity and resistance to evaporation, have been helpful to many in their war against white-footed ants.

(2)NOMADIC BEHAVIOR
The colony will relocate very quickly when a new feeding site is established. The PCO should monitor the location of the colony and move the bait stations with the colony.

(3)MULTIPLE REPRODUCTIVES
The super colony will have hundreds of queens and intercaste used to maintain and increase the size of the colony. The intercase produce sterile workers and trophic eggs to ensure the survival of the colony. The non-foraging ants use the trophic eggs for food and do not rely directly on the foragers. Ants that are affected by the bait can be replaced quickly so that the PCO should monitor the colony and replenish the bait often to maintain a reduction in the population of the colony.

(4) VARIOUS FEEDING PATTERNS
The white footed ant as well as many other types of insects will change their feeding patterns on a regular basis. The ants may take the bait and then stop taking it for no apparent reason. The everchanging patterns can be attributed to many factors such as barometric pressure, chemical contamination, new food sites, etc. The PCO must be patient and inspect the colony site carefully to ensure that the bait will continue to be effective.

White footed ant control is more a process of reduction and management than elimination. As such, your control procedures need to be built with that expectation in mind.