A new attractant of multiple ant species and a new repellent mean double trouble for pest ants, including fire ants that now also infest California and New Mexico. ARS researchers developed the patent-pending attractant, which degrades easily and has little environmental impact. It can be used in combination with water-soluble toxicants to create a bait. ARS entomologists conducted studies showing the bait attracted imported fire ants, Argentine ants, Pharaoh ants, little black ants, carpenter ants, ghost ants, big-headed ants, little fire ants, acrobat ants and crazy ants. Many of these pest ants are problems both indoors and outdoors and cause agricultural, structural or other damage.
Many regulations limit or ban insecticides for controlling insects, especially in populated areas.
This repellent relies on chemical scents repugnant to ants, discouraging them from entering certain areas or forcing them to leave.