Pest controllers are advised of the need for a programmed approach to Pharaoh’s ant control from the onset, especially as outside temperatures drop and heating systems go on. Tony Baker from Alphakill Environmental Services explains the issue. “With Pharaoh’s ants being a tropical species they search out warm, humid areas to survive,” he says, adding that a temperature of 32oC is needed for the species to breed. Pharaoh’s ants (Monomorium pharaonis) are most prevalent in large buildings including apartment blocks, schools and hospitals as well as food production and storage areas. Nests are often located in inaccessible areas within a building and at all levels where there is sufficient warmth and humidity. “Infestations are typically found near central heating systems, in boiler rooms and around water tanks, as well as, in some cases, under baths or behind fridges, typically around the motors or sockets. Basically, anywhere where there’s a steady heat source,” notes Tony. Infestations within apartment blocks in particular present significant issues, especially as the ants have the freedom to disperse throughout the entire block, meaning they can establish large colonies, infiltrating the fabric of buildings, utilising service ducts, gas pipes as well as electricity lines as ideal trail routes. “Typical food sources include high protein foods such as animal based products and meats,” he says, noting that foraging has been observed in general and even clinical hospital waste bins – an indication that they will eat almost anything. “Pharaoh’s ants are a public health pest and can also act as vectors to serious pathogens in the wrong situations. And although not a severe problem across the UK as a whole, they create significant problems for those who have an infestation, with hospital environments proving why their disease transmitting capability is such a concern.” He explains that Pharaoh’s ants tend to be very easy to control, but a gradual, programmed approach is important to achieve complete eradication, incorporating regular monitoring and the provision of enough bait. “Problems often emerge not in dealing with the ants themselves, but rather with the techniques and errors in the approach clients often adopt.” “Customers are tending to only use professional services after they have exhausted all the ‘Do it yourself’ options – which is entirely the wrong thing to do. In some cases a 6-8 week programme would be sufficient, but we’ve seen them run for as long as six months,” he warns. Understanding ant behaviour is key to control. Pharaoh’s ants are particularly sensitive to chemicals, but it’s important to use minimally disruptive treatments to avoid ‘budding’ behaviour where the queen ant gathers a couple of workers to carry immature eggs, larvae and pupae to create a new colony elsewhere. “Budding can happen when the parent colony comes under attack,” notes Tony, adding that if an insecticide or chemical treatment is picked up as a potential threat, budding behaviour sees the colony scatter and disperse creating new colonies elsewhere. “Although they have a dependence on temperature to get around it’s very easy for colonies to ‘bud off’, being transported on the bottom of laundry bags or second hand furniture in a process of passive migration.” Tony emphasises the need to have a gradual and systematic approach. “Working methodically and sticking to a system for control is vital for complete eradication and success,” he explains. Start by surveying every possible location in every room of a building to pinpoint infestations and establish the extent of the problem. “Assessing worker ants, locating trails and observing foraging activity allows for a programmed control approach to be adopted,” notes Tony. “Biopren BMS provides a very good tool in the strategy,” he says, “Worker ants will often alternate between food preferences depending on the needs of the nest at the time. Biopren BMS Duo (S-Methoprene) contains two completely different bait matrixes, including both sweet and high protein baits with attractants and nutrients as well as the insect growth regulator. “The acceptance of either of the two baits in the station depends on the needs and stage of the ants’ lifecycle - when queens are heavily in lay they require a high protein diet. “Once you know which of the two baits they’re accepting and taking back to the colony the treatment can be adapted to suit, increasing the availability of the bait they’re most readily taking,” he says. The active ingredient in Biopren prevents the queen from laying eggs, causing sterilisation, affecting the lifecycle as well as egg formation and development, preventing the development of replacement workers and queens. Vitally, the queen is not alerted to an attack on the colony. “As a contraceptive type bait it means the queens eggs are no longer viable, leading to eradication by natural means or exhaustion, in around 10-12 weeks,” adds Tony. He says that the formulation of Biopren BMS means it is easy to use. Accurate dosing is achieved using the pre measured pack with a dry bait matrix, saving time and money with treatments. Biopren BMS bait also uniquely provides a method of monitoring Pharaoh’s ants infestations. Tony notes; “It’s also simple to monitor the uptake of the bait. I often use a marker pen to keep track, marking off the level of bait remaining in the station at each visit,” he says. Contained within a bait station means not only is the bait protected from contamination from sources such as domestic cleaning products but it can also be used safely on all surfaces including kitchen counters where Tony has previously found ant trails. Tony agrees that it’s important to ensure adequate placement of bait stations. “Sufficient baiting and monitoring means you can be responsive to changing feed preferences which is important to achieve complete eradication, that is a realistic expectation of a control campaign,” he says. |