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Keep Ants Away: Re-think Ant Control!

18 Jun

Ants are one of the most common pests in Malaysia. As the majority of ant species prefer a sunny atmosphere, this environment is ideal for ants to grow. They are social insects that live in colonies in the ground, houses or any other places. Ants can give nuisance to human beings when they are found in foods, drinks or inside the house because they move in a group. So, it is always important to choose the right strategy to keep ants away.

Common Ant Species

The most familiar ant species in Malaysia are:

  • Pharaoh ant
  • Black House Ant
  • Fire Ant
  • Ghost ant
  • Odorous House Ant
  • Carpenter Ant

Life Cycle

Ants are social insects that live in a colony. They undergo complete metamorphosis (Eggs, Larvae, Pupae, and Adults.

  • Eggs are small, soft, whitish, and oval-shaped.
  • Larvae are legless, similar to maggots.
  • Pupae are whitish ants, it looks like adult ants.
  • Adults differentiated into different castes. Each caste has its own responsibilities. Such as Queen, Worker, Soldier, Drone.

Food preferences

  • Sweets
  • Protein
  • Fats

Threat

Ants can give nuisance to human beings when they are found in foods, drinks or inside the house because they move in a group. Venom injecting or biting ants can cause anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction. The symptoms include an itchy rash, throat swelling and low blood pressure. The sting and bites also can cause serious pustules and blisters. Ants also might become a mechanical vector for pathogens as they forage on garbage and food wastes.

Getting Rid of Ants

As ants forage for foods, control can be made by eliminating all sources of food and maintaining hygiene. The best way to control ants is by treating the whole colony. However, the colony is very hard to be traced because they forage far away from the nest. Thus, spraying and killing the individuals will not help in eliminating the whole colony. Hence, the suitable way to control ants can be done by residual spraying and baiting.

Ridpest's Approach to Ant Control

  • Residual Spraying – uses residual pesticide and acts as a contact poison and stomach poison. The ants will be poisoned when they move along the treated substrates. The chemical will be delivered onto their exoskeleton and absorbed into their body fluids. The chemical also can be passed among the colony members when the affected individual gets in contact with the others.
  • Baiting – gel ant bait for the ants baiting system is made up of attractants, pesticides, and moisture. It is also slow-acting, similar to the residual chemical. Thus, it is applied directly where ants are found. The gel will be applied in several small spots on ant trails or near cracks and crevices where ants are seen accessing the building. The best place to apply the gel includes under sinks, around pipes, along the baseboards, and around door and window frames.

If you have a problem with Ant, contact Ridpest today to get a quote.

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