• Introduction
• Management Options
• Organizing a Community-Wide Suppression Program
• Treatment Methods

• Natural and Biological Control
• Physical and Mechanical Methods
• Control Devices
• Home Remedies
• Organic Insecticides
• Chemical Control

• Baits
• Contact Insecticides for Individual Mounds
• Mound Drenches
• Granular Products
• Dusts
• Injectable Products
• Surface Applications

• Biology and Identification
• Medical Problems
• History of Control Efforts
• Fire Ant Insecticides
• Policy Statement
• Acknowledgments
• Print this Lesson

Surface Applications and Barriers in and around Structures

Products used to treat ant trails and colonies located in wall voids are usually dusts or sprays, although some surface treatments are mixtures of insecticide and latex paint. Unless the colony itself is treated, these products only reduce the number of foraging worker ants. Surface treatments are also used to create barriers to protect items or areas from foraging worker ants.

Surface Applications Outdoors

Granular insecticides are applied with fertilizer spreaders. These materials must be thoroughly watered into soil after application as directed. Liquid formulations are applied with a pump-up, high-volume, hydraulic, hose-end or boom sprayer. Some contact insecticides are relatively long-acting (weeks to months), suppress foraging ants quickly, and prevent small mounds from becoming established. Through repeated use, these treatments can eliminate most colonies. When applied as directed, granular products containing fipronil eliminate fire ant colonies slowly, requiring 4 or more weeks. A single treatment will continue to eliminate most ant colonies for about 1 year. However, the treatment is non-repellent to ants and new colonies migrating into treated areas can survive temporarily.