Preparing for ants in the spring

Dr. Cisse Spragins, founder and CEO, Rockwell Labs

While weather affects pest pressure generally, ants are consistently the No. 1 urban pest year after year. New construction on greenfield sites can be quite susceptible, thanks to the disruption of natural populations. Ants typically become active in the spring, when overnight lows are at least in the low 50s (degrees Fahrenheit).

I suggest preparing your accounts for this spring increase by proactively applying weatherable granular bait around the perimeter. When ants begin foraging, they will find the bait and take it to the nest. Treating early will help prevent large summer populations from developing.

Apply exclusion to the extent possible and treat potential entry points with residual insecticide spray. Know the most common ant species in your area and understand their basic biology. Persistent tramp ant species will generally require proactive management, as well as a multi-pronged treatment approach that combines exclusion, habitat management, treating structures and trails, perimeter baiting and/or high-volume liquid baiting. Gel baiting on the outside of the structure near entry points can help draw ants out so they can be treated outside, and it gets them out of your client’s indoor environment.

Ants are a major revenue source for most PMPs, so developing successful control protocols should yield significant benefits for your business.