HOW TO GET RID OF GHOST ANTS

HOW to GET RID of GHOST ANTS

Ghost ants get their name because they are very hard to see. Ghost ants are around 1/16" long and the head and thorax is dark while everywhere else is pale. They are highly adaptable to conditions. They consume honeydew substances and dead and living insects.

INSPECTION

Ghost ants can be found in cavaties or void and in soil. Inside they can be found in wall voids, behind baseboards, between cabinets, and walls, soil of planted plants, and etc. Outside they can be found in soil, under stones, under and inside logs, under and in fire wood,in debris, hollow trees, alone the foundation of the structure, grass and mulch of sidewalks, patios, windows, doors, utility pipes, and electrical outlet.

CONTROL METHODS

Prevention:
To control ants, it is most often to recommend using baits. The 3 different types of baits are: granule, gel, and liquid. The granule and gel the ants will carry back to the colony to kill the entire colony as where liquid, it will rub on the ants' body as it goes back to the colony to kill off the entire colony. Just spraying the surface will not kill the colony ants except for the one being sprayed at the time. Using baits will help kill off the colony. Even when you kill thousands of ants that are seen it is not effective because the ants will continue to exist if the colony is still existent. If the colony is not treated itself, the Queen ant will still be alive and continue to reproduce more ants.
You may take these steps to prevent Ant infestation:

1. Correct moisture problems, roof leaks, and plumbing leaks
2. Cut back tree limbs or branches that could serve as a bridge to your structure
3. Seal cracks and openings around the foundation, especially where utility pipes and wires enter from the outside.
4. Firewood needs to be stacked away from the house, elevated off the ground if possible.

Crack and Crevice Treatments:
This treatment is generally applied with a liquid spray (PHANTOM, MASTERLINE, SUSPEND SC, TERMIDOR SC), dust (DELTA DUST, PYGANIC DUST), aerosol (V ONE PYRETHRUM,CY-KICK AEROSOL, PRO CITRA DL, CB-80 EXTRA, D- FORCE HPX,PYGANIC DUST), or certain bait formulas (GOURMET ANT BAIT GEL, MAXFORCE ANT BAIT GEL, DUPONT ADVION ANT GEL BAIT ) to be applied to small cracks and crevices in a structure where ants may enter, trail, or find harborage. For liquid spray application, you will need to have a pressure sprayer or a gallon sprayer (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER). You will need to apply using the amount that is said on the label and may need to reapply if needed. You will have to use a low pressure system with a pinpoint or variable pattern nozzle to apply the spray mixture to areas such as floors, cracks and crevices in and around baseboards, walls, and expansion joints, areas around water and sewer pipes, and voids formed by equipment or appliances. The dust application is simple. However, when using dust please be cautious especially when children and pets are present. Use dust only in areas where they cannot reach. Both of the dusts,DELTA DUST, PYGANIC DUST, you will need to use a BELLOW BULB DUSTER or a CENTROBULB DUSTER . When using BELLOW BULB DUSTER or a CENTROBULB DUSTER for DELTA DUST, PYGANIC DUST you will need to fill the duster with the dust as directed in the label and apply DELTA DUST or PYGANIC DUST to voids or channels in damaged wooden members of a structure, to cracks, spaces or bearing joints between the wooden members of a structure. Apply lightly and uniformly to infested area. DO NOT OVER USE DUST. For the use of V ONE PYRETHRUM,CY-KICK AEROSOL, PRO CITRA DL, CB-80 EXTRA, D- FORCE HPX, ALPINE AEROSOL, as in all of the aerosol products, there are residual and non-residual products. We do not recommend that you spray residual aerosol products on surfaces such as mattresses, bed covers, furniture, and in open air because it can be harmful to certain humans who are allergic to certain chemicals and pets, that is why you would need to enclose the room for about 2-3 hours. You would need to apply aerosols as a crack and crevice treatment into cracks, crevices and voids, where ants may be traveling and/or harboring, including, but not limited to, around doors, window frames, wall voids and other structural cracks and crevices which can possibly count as an entry point.

Phantom	Masterline	Suspend SC	Termindor

These products can be used with this item:

Chapin 1 gallon Sprayer

Delta Dust	PyGanic Dust

These products can be used with these items:

Bellow Bulb Duster	Centrobulb Duster

V One	CY-Kick	Pro-Citra DL	CB-80	D-Foam	Alpine Aerosol

Maxforce Ant Bait	Dupont Ant Bait	Gourment Bait

Broadcast Treatments:
This treatment is generally used for large turf or other landscape areas and contains directions for specific amounts of the product to be applied as a liquid spray (PHANTOM, MASTERLINE, SUSPEND SC, TERMINDOR SC), granule (TALSTAR PL, TALSTAR EZ, BIFEN, DELTAGARD G) or bait (ADVANCE 375A, NIBAN GRANULAR BAIT, MAXFORCE FIRE ANT BAIT) to a given area. Broadcast treatments are usually for the entire lawn. For this treatment we suggest a 1 gallon sprayer for the application of liquid spray (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER). Following the directions on the label, you would spray the entire lawn with the solution. If you should find an ant mound, you should use more solution than the other areas in detail on the mound; a four foot diameter circle around the mound should also be treated. For the best results, you should apply in cool weather (65 - 80 F) or in early morning or late evening hours, because in high temperature, the solution will break down and the result will not be as effective. To use granule (TALSTAR PL, TALSTAR EZ, BIFEN, DELTAGARD G) we suggest that you use a handle spreader to apply it (HANDLE SPREADER). You will need to follow the directions on the label on the amount that you should use. Then you will need to irrigate if the soil is not moist before application. For the use of bait, ADVANCE 375A, NIBAN GRANULAR BAIT, MAXFORCE FIRE ANT BAIT, you would not need a handle spreader for baits, you can just spread the bait using the container. You would need to apply this product as uniformly as possible, using the directions of the rate and amount needed on the label. Repeat application if it is necessary.

Phantom	Masterline	Suspend SC	Termindor

These products can be used with this item:

Chapin 1 gallon Sprayer

Talstar PL	Talstar EZ	Bifen	DeltaGard

These products can be used with this item:

Handle Spreader

Advance 375A	Niban	Maxforce Fire Ant

Drench Treatments:
For this application, we suggest you use a gallon sprayer (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER). Mixing a liquid formula following label directions and then applying the entire volume of the mixed liquid directly to the problem area such as an ant mound (PHANTOM, MASTERLINE, SUSPEND SC, TERMINDOR SC). It will take approximately 1-2 gallons of dilution for each mound area. Spray the mound until wet and apply to a 4 foot diameter circle around the mound. If the mounds are larger than 12", use a higher volume. Applications should be made in cool weather, as in early morning or late evening hours, and not in the heat of the day because the solution will breakdown and not be as effective.

Phantom	Masterline	Suspend SC	Termindor

These products can be used with this item:

Chapin 1 gallon Sprayer

Barrier Treatments:
This treatment is applying a liquid spray, granular, or baits products to zone around a structure that any pest ant might enter the zone. These are sometimes called a perimeter treatments where soil areas are adjacent to a structure as well as a portion of the lower foundation wall next to the soil are treated (PHANTOM, MASTERLINE, SUSPEND SC, TERMINDOR SC). Barrier treatments or Perimeter treatments are used just around the structure of your home to create a "barrier" for your home. We suggest that you use a gallon sprayer as well (CHAPIN 1 GALLON SPRAYER. Using the directions of the amount and the rate that you should use, you should treat a band 6 to 8 feet wide and next to the structure and the foundation of the structure to a height of 2 to 3 feet. For better results, you will need to use this treatment regularly to reduce the amount of insects and to keep your house insect free.

Phantom	Masterline	Suspend SC	Termindor

These products can be used with this item:

Chapin 1 gallon Sprayer

Void Treatments:
This treatment is to be recommended to use when you have an infestation in an area that you cannot reach such as inside walls, blocks, or other structural voids to treat for ant activity within by drilling a small hole if needed; you can remove electric outlet cover and use the space to treat inside voids. Dust (DELTA DUST, DRIONE DUST) and aerosol formula (V ONE PYRETHRUM, CY-KICK AEROSOL, PRO-CITRA-DL , CB-80 EXTRA, D- FORCE HPX, ALPINE AEROSOL) are generally preferred here. When using the void treatment and after drilling a hole or removing the electric outlet cover, you will insert the tip of the duster (BELLOW BULB DUSTER or a CENTROBULB DUSTER) containing the dust (DELTA DUST, PYGANIC DUST) into the hole and use as directed. Using the aerosol formula (V ONE PYRETHRUM, CY-KICK AEROSOL, PRO-CITRA-DL , CB-80 EXTRA, D- FORCE HPX,ALPINE AEROSOL), be cautioned because aerosol is a liquid so do not use in electric outings, use only dust. You will just need to attach a thin straw to the nozzle depending on the product, and spray it into the void.

V One	CY-Kick	Pro-Citra DL	CB-80	D-Foam	Alpine Aerosol

Delta Dust	PyGanic Dust

These products can be used with these items:

Bellow Bulb Duster	Centrobulb Duster