1. Ant Food Preferences: The Key to Solving Difficult Problems Philip G. Koehler Margie and Dempsey Sapp Endowed Professor of Urban Entomology University of Florida

2. Ants vs Cockroaches Ants –Queen –Males –Workers –Larvae Cockroaches –Females –Males –Nymphs

3. This is a Queen!!!

4. And This is a Winged Queen.

5. Thousands of Queens!!

6. Concepts of Baiting Placement so that ants find them Particles small enough for small ants Foods that ants prefer Slow acting poisons to allow trophallaxis (regurgitation and feeding others)

7. Bait 3-4 days 1-5 months

8. Multiple Queens cause most Failures Bait X X Pharaoh Ghost White-footed Fire ant Argentine XX

9. Food Preference Sweet feeders -- climb shrubs and trees for honeydew Protein feeders -- on porches and window ledges feeding on dead insects attracted to lights Lipid (oil) feeders -- in lawns feeding on seeds Do not consume wood

10. Foods Sugar Peanut oil Crickets

11. Bait by Ant Food Preference Sweet feeders— baits for these ants contain sugars or syrups Protein feeders— made of ground silkworm pupae Lipid feeders— usually contain peanut butter or soybean oil

12. Baits ProteinSugar Oil

14. Pharaoh Ant = Window ledges

15. Break Area with Ant Foraging on Table

16. Break Area with Ants Foraging on Counter

17. Office with Ants Foraging in Papers

18. Window Ledges surround Entire Building Window ledge

19. Courtyard

20. Window Ledge next to Shrubs

21. Pharaoh Ant Trail on Window Ledge

22. Food Sources placed on Counter in Break Area

23. Food Sources placed on Desk in Office

24. Food Sources placed on Window Ledge

25. Food Sources on Counter 45 Minutes Later 0 ants

26. Food Sources on Office Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants3 ants1 ant

27. 3 ants 1 ant Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants

28. Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants19 ants15 ants

29. Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants 19 ants 15 ants

30. Counter in Break Area 45 Minutes Later 0 ants

31. Desk 45 Minutes Later 35 ants17 ants7 ants

32. Window Ledge 45 Minutes Later 53 ants13 ants12 ants

33. Window Ledge 13 ants 53 ants

34. Total Pharaoh Ants at Food and Baits 1 98 165 Break counterOffice deskWindow ledge 0 50 100 150 200

35. Primarily feed on dead insects on window sills, ledges, and porches. Also, feed on sugars and oils. Can be controlled by baiting at windows and porches without even entering house. Pharaoh Ant Summary

36. Crazy Ants = Sweets

37. Loading Dock Area Crazy ant nest

38. Back Entrance Next to Loading Dock Crazy ant nest Soda cans

39. Nest Entrance Next to Wall

40. Foods Placed Next to Wall on Loading Dock

41. Food on Loading Dock 45 Minutes Later 30 ants0 ants

42. Sucrose

43. Crazy Ants 42 ants 0 ants

44. Crazy Ant Summary Feed on sweets. Like to nest under slabs and other protected areas. Placement of sweet baits close to nest guarantees control.

45. Carpenter ants = Trees and voids

46. Daytime Inspection of Business Office

47. Sticky traps help pinpoint areas of activity 8 ants Drink cups

48. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Are they entering for water?

49. Daytime Inspection of Business Office 8 ants

50. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Water also is available in potted plants 6 ants

51. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Greatest number of ants caught next to copier 12 ants

52. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Looks like areas where ants leave the building, there are a few dead ants on the ledge

53. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Ant bone-yard on window track

54. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Trees look like potential harborage sites

55. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Particularly hollows and tree holes

56. Daytime Inspection of Business Office Holes in caulk look like nest sites

57. Night-time Inspection of Business Office Ants on floors and on papers

58. Night-time Inspection of Business Office

59. Ants leaving through window behind copier and crawling along window ledge

60. Night-time Inspection of Window Ledge

61. Ants Entering Hole in Caulk

62. Carpenter Ant Nests Nest entrance Nest entrance Nest entrance Main Nest entrance Satellite Nest

63. Foods Placed Next to Copier

64. Food Sources 2 hours later Empty Some leftUntouched

65. Restocked Food Sources 4 ants 0 ants

66. Baits Next to Copier 20 minutes later 3 ants0 ants

67. Solution to Carpenter Ant Problem

68. Carpenter Ant Summary Prefer sweets and dead insects. Night-time inspections critical for control. Find and destroy nest.

69. Ghost Ant = Trails

70. Ghost Ants in Whitefly Rearing Laboratory Sweet potato whitefly on sweet potato

71. Corner beside Whitefly Chamber

72. Drop Ceiling above Whitefly Chamber Entrance to nest

73. Food in Corner next to Whitefly Chamber

74. Ants on Baits Ghost ants do not forage far from trails Cricket right on trail Sucrose far from trail 0 ants9 ants

75. Ants on Cricket

76. Foods have to be Placed Right on Ghost Ant Trail 21 ants

77. Baits in Corner

78. Ghost Ants on Bait 87 ants 0 ants

79. Ghost Ant Summary Feed on sugars and dead insects. Very strong trail followers, and baits must be placed right on trail. Follow trails to nest.

80. Fire Ants = Mounds in Lawn

81. Nest near Trees in Landscape

82. Nest next to Greenhouse

83. Fire Ants next to Front Entrance

84. Fire Ants next to Doorway to Office

85. Fire Ants in Hallway Weather seal in window is destroyed Ant bait station in hall Termite swarmer

86. Nests near Greenhouses

87. Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse

88. Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 5 Minutes Later 4 ants 78 ants 0 ants

89. Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 5 Minutes Later 78 ants

90. Food Sources placed next to Greenhouse 10 Minutes Later

91. Baits placed next to Greenhouse

92. Ants Must Return to Nest to Recruit Others 5 Minutes Later Watch this ant

93. Baits placed next to Greenhouse 30 Minutes Later Ant is still there

94. Fire Ants 5 minutes30 minutes

95. Bait Piled on Fire Ant Mound

96. Broadcast Application of Fire Ant Bait

98. Fire Ant Summary Prefer oil based baits Broadcast applications of baits are most efficient.

99. Summary of Ant Feeding Pharaoh ant ** *** * Crazy ant *** Ghost ant *** ** Carpenter ant *** ** Fire ant * ** *** SugarProteinOil

100. Sugar = Honeydew Aphids Mealybugs

101. Pyrocantha near Entrance to Building Ants

102. Shrubs Surrounding Structure

103. Block Ant Access to Aphids Aphids Sticky barriers Residual Insecticides Foliar sprays Baits Soil drench or injection Ghost ants

104. Imidacloprid (Merit) a systemic that kills honeydew-producing insects on plants Foliar Sprays

105. Barriers Applied to Bark of Trees and Shrubs Residual insecticide barriers Sticky Barriers –Tak-trap Insecticide or sticky barrier

106. Baits Placed below Barriers on Bark Insecticide or sticky barrier Bait system

107. Baits Placed Below Barrier Insecticide or sticky barrier Bait system

108. Aphids Tree and shrub imidacloprid drench to kill sucking insects Soil drench Imidacloprid Translocation from roots

109. Soil Injection or Drench with Imidacloprid Soil injection Drench

110. Fire Ant Carpenter Ant Big-headed Ant Acrobat Ant Ghost Ant Pharaoh Ant Argentine Ant White-footed Ant Crazy Ant Perimeter Residual Barriers

111. Treat Ant Nesting Sites: Voids