There are about 1,000 ant species in the US, with only a handful of them being present in home infestations, and an even smaller number than that being considered pests. However, this does not stop ants from being a nuisance at best and a dangerous pest at worst. Whether you’re dealing with a trail of harmless ants infesting your food storage area, or with carpenter ants destroying the wooden structure of the home, you are likely interested in the various types of ant killing products that you have at your disposal. In this article, we’re going to cover these products and help you choose the best one for your situation.

The two main product categories

There are two main product categories when it comes to ant-killers: baits and kill-on-contact products. The reason you would choose one product over another depends on a variety of factors, but the most important is whether you know the location of the nest or not. When you know the location of the nest, you can use kill-on-contact insecticides to take it out, and when you don’t, you can set up baits, which are slower acting insecticides that will be taken back to the nest and shared between the ants, eventually reaching the queen.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in an ant killer will determine the onset speed of the effects. Some of the delayed-onset active ingredients include borax, hydramethylnon and fipronil, while chemicals such as deltamethrin and d-limonene are rapid acting insecticides. The product labelling will usually specify if you are dealing with a bait or kill-on-contact insecticide, but you can take a look at the active ingredient as well, and do some extra research to see exactly how the product works.

Application methods

You then have various application methods, each being best useful in various situations. You have bait stations, gel, liquid and granular baits, sprays and ant dust. Baits can be used in harder to reach areas that are frequented by ants, while sprays and dust can be used either directly on the nest, or to create exclusion zones in certain areas of the home.

Using the right ant killer can help you improve your results. However, for certain infestations, you will need the help of products that may not be commercially available. Contact us today if you are dealing with a stubborn infestation that you cannot control using conventional means.