The Bottom Line
Terro T300b Liquid Ant Baits is our pick for the best ant killer because it’s very easy to use and it’s effective. It also comes in a pack of 12 so you can place them in various areas of the house to get the job done more thoroughly.
What to Know About Ant Killer Before Shopping
Ingredients
Borax is a common active ingredient in ant killers, but products can also be made with hydramethylnon, fipronil, avermectin B1, indoxacarb, and others. It’s critical to read the ingredients of an ant killer because some may be toxic when ingested or contain allergens like peanuts or peanut by-products.
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Type
There are various types of ant killers. But for the best ant killer, experts recommend you use products that work as baits. The reason is these lure nearby ants, which then take some bait from the trap to their nest. The ants begin eating it, and eventually, the colony gets wiped out.
Experts generally advise against kill-on-contact sprays as they don’t kill the ant colony. They can also be dangerous for other species.
Application Types
Ant killers can be applied in several ways, so the best application type for you often comes down to preference and safety concerns. Bait stations are small plastic containers that lure ants in to grab poison that they then share with the colony. You can also opt for gel bait that is applied by squeezing a tube, granule bait, or dust-based baits that are sprinkled around an area, or sprays that are used on ants directly or on surfaces.
Ant Type
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There are many different types of ants, and they all don’t have the same behaviors. For example, carpenter ants require a moist environment to build their colony, while fire ants usually set up mound nests outside. It’s important to properly identify which has invaded your home or backyard in order to know what treatment will work best.
Effective Time
While some ant killers kill the insects on contact, the best way to deal with an infestation is to target the entire colony, usually by using baits. Smaller infestations may be contained within a day or two, but larger ones may take two weeks or more to completely wipe out the colony.
Your Questions, Answered
How often should I treat for ants?
The frequency a person may need to treat their home for ants can be anywhere from zero to multiple times a year. It all depends on the situation.
“If this is a case of ants foraging for food in mid-spring and they don’t find a suitable resource, the presence of ants will dissipate quickly, leading to no further activity over the course of the year,” Dobrinska explains. “In other cases, if there are heavy ant pressures on the exterior of older homes and ants are seen consistently to varying degrees, a scheduled application—three times, four times, or six times—from a pest management professional may be necessary.”
But remember, you may be able to prevent an infestation in the first place. “Homeowners should clean up sugary sweet liquids or spills quickly. Also, don’t store firewood inside or next to the home. It is also ideal to trim bushes and trees away from the house, not allowing them to touch the exterior,” Hottel says.
How quickly can ants infest your home?
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An ant infestation can happen fairly quickly. “For those ants that can thrive and nest inside your home, infestation can occur in as little as two to three days,” Dobrinska says.
You will likely spot those ants roaming around your kitchen and bathroom. “Ants are constantly on the hunt for food, water, and moisture for their colonies,” Hottel says, adding that they make their way in through holes, cracks, and gaps in a home’s exterior. “If there is a nest in the house, you will likely see activity pretty quickly if you leave sweet and wet food out,” Hottel adds.
How fast do ant killers work?
There are various methods and materials to get rid of ants. How fast the ants are removed typically depends on the size of the infestation. Smaller ant infestations may be controlled within 24 to 48 hours while larger ones can take longer.
“It is best to look at ants as a superorganism because ants operate as one colony. Killing a few ants directly does not have much of an effect on the overall colony,” Dobrinska explains. “If you can see the nest of ants, then you can use a residual material directly—dust or liquid—on the nest that can potentially eliminate the colony. Otherwise, if you do not see the nest, it is best to focus on exclusion, sanitation, and rely on ant baits that work slowly but will generate long-term results.”
Who We Are
Anna Halkidis is a journalist and award-winning editor with more than 10 years of experience covering health and lifestyle content. To make this list of best ant killers, she considered ratings and effectiveness of each product. She spoke with Thomas Dobrinska, a board-certified entomologist with Ehrlich Pest Control, and Benjamin Hottel, entomologist with Orkin, a pest control company, for their expertise on ants. In addition, she consulted Vernard Hodges, DVM, and Terrence Ferguson, DVM, who appear on Critter Fixers: Country Vets, for advice on pet-safe insect killers.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
