Treat ants with non-repellent pesticides

Andy Linares, President/Founder, Bug Off Pest Control Center

All the data points to the fact that ants are the No. 1 economic pest in the United States. But that’s not the case in certain markets, like the New York City Metropolitan area, where the German cockroach is still king.

Still, ant pressure has been building here for years and new species have taken hold. Once upon a time, all we basically had to deal with were pavement ants, pharaoh ants and carpenter ants. Now, OHA and ghost ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum) have joined those species as common pests — with the white-footed ant (Technomyrmex difficilis) also popping up periodically. As a result, PMPs have had to improve their skills and elevate their knowledge of this remarkable pest.

Most of these new species are tramp ants with a predisposition to bud. That makes them formidable foes because they can have multiple queens, broad food preferences and a great variety of nesting choices.

My ant advice, regardless of locale? Be generous with your bait and focus on the use of non-repellent pesticides. Also, educate your clients. Ask them not to take it upon themselves to spray on their own; encourage them to remove all food and water options and allow the foraging ants go on their way undisturbed. After all, you want to ensure the ants get back safely to their nests so that they can share the meal you prepared for them.