There are many options now for controlling ants both in both domestic and commercial situations. Residual sprays both knock down and repellent, rain activated granules and baits (both sugar and protein based). Most pest controllers will now use a combination to control ants - especially on the North Shore of Auckland where ant problems are on the increase. Some commercial companies control ants using baits inside both domestic and commercial dwellings. Many have specialised and branded containers to hold and release these baits. But is this wise pest control - the following investigates how sound this idea is.

Baits are effective, this is not in question. People who have no success with baits may be using a cheap product or have not stuck at it. Baiting is not a quick fix. The slow acting nature of ant bait means there is no "body count" to judge its success. Ants have left the problem area before they expire. If they haven't other ants will often carry the dead off to mass graves. Sometimes customers complain of dead ants raining down from the roof and through light fittings after they have been baiting. This is probably just the ants tidying up, they are incredibly organised.

If baiting works then, why not use it in offices and houses? Well consider this; baiting may reduce nests by thousands at a time if done correctly, but what if the nest is the hundreds of thousands or more? Then it may take months to successfully eradicate the nest completely. Do people really want to put up with ants on the window ledges or kitchen bench for months? It's not likely.

Baiting works but no one wants months of ants inside - so what is the best solution?

The best results from ant bait comes from external use. It is important to spend more money buying a good bait to start with. Then picking the right day - when it's not looking like rain. Finding the ant trails greatly increases the effectiveness of the product, the trails outside can be much bigger than the ones inside. This type of baiting also discourages inside activity as the ants will busily lay scent trails to the bait and ants that would have caused a nuisance inside may now never get that far. Instead of the ants heading straight inside to the bait, they are now heading outside. A residual spray treatment inside will reinforce this as will granule barriers.

Commercial customers are more likely to rid themselves completely of ants overtime as they can pay for regular visits and baiting. Domestic customers can get the same result themselves over time but it takes patience and dicipline with the baiting treatments.