As spring temperatures start to rise, problematic ants will inevitably start to make a nuisance for food businesses and household customers.
With many infestations coming in from outside in search of food, pest controllers are reminded that it’s important to get as close as possible to the source of the colony with bait control options, said Syngenta’s technical manager, Sean Loakes.
“Advion Ant Gel is highly palatable for key pest ant species and extremely effective when foraging ants take the bait back into the colony,” Mr Loakes said. “The quickest results will always be achieved when baits are placed close to the nest and they can quickly move more into the colony.
“It’s particularly important in spring, to control colonies before they naturally go into multiplication and mass migration when conditions get hot and dry.”
Mr Loakes highlighted that Advion Ant Gel is still permitted for both indoor and outdoor baiting, using any bait stations that professional pest controllers find best suit their own situations and target ant species.
Some other ant bait options can now only be used outdoors in manufacturers’ RTU bait stations and no longer targeted with direct application from the syringe, he points out. “If ant colonies are some distance from the building entry and foraging in multiple places for food, that could significantly reduce the transfer of baits to the nest and the speed or completeness of kill.
“The closer you can get the bait to the colony, which you can do with Advion Ant Gel, the better the chance of success,” he added.
Advion Ant Gel is a true gel formulation, with the ideal viscosity for all situations and maintaining its attractiveness. The bioactivation of its active ingredient, indoxacarb, is only triggered in the target insect’s gut, which gives it a highly favourable environmental profile and makes Advion suitable for use as a crack, crevice and spot treatment in and around residential, commercial, industrial, public and institutional situations, including HACCP food preparation areas – indoors and outdoors.
While Advion Ant Gel is only approved for use by pest control professionals, exactly the same formulation is available in the Outcast Ant bait stations registered for both professional and amateur use.
“That means professionals can use Outcast Ant if they choose, or to leave or sell to customers when they have completed an initial treatment with Advion Ant Gel,” Mr Loakes said.
“That could avoid costly repeat visits and keep reassured customers happy, for example.”
To help professional pest controllers better understand the benefits of Outcast Ant, visitors to PPC Live in Harrogate – taking place on Wednesday, March 19 – can pick up a free sample box, by simply explaining how they think the technology could best suit their business and customers.