Various species
Pest description and crop damage Ants normally establish their colonies in sunny locations in well-drained soils. In turf, a nest consists of a series of underground tunnels and galleries which may extend three or more feet beneath the soil surface. Multiple openings provide access to the surface. During nest construction, ants excavate large quantities of soil which they deposit in mounds on the surface. Not only are these mounds unsightly, but they can smother the turfgrass immediately surrounding colony openings and make routine maintenance difficult by producing a bumpy, uneven turf.
Biology and life history A typical ant colony consists of an egg-laying queen, males, immature stages (eggs, larvae, and pupae) and hundreds to thousands of sterile female workers which can become a nuisance as they forage around buildings, sidewalks, foundations and driveways. Ants consume a wide variety of foods including seeds, small insects, plant sap, flower nectar, and fungal growth. Many ant species feed on honeydew, a sweet liquid secreted by plant-feeding insects such as aphid, mealybugs, scale insects, and leafhoppers. In the spring and fall, colonies produce winged ants that leave the colony, mate and seek new nesting sites.
Management-chemical control
Products for home use
- abamectin
- azadirachtin-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- Beauvaria bassiana-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin
- boric acid
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- cypermethrin
- deltamethrin
- fenvalerate
- gamma-cyhalothrin
- imidacloprid-Some neonicotinoids have been banned from use on public properties.
- indoxacarb
- lambda-cyhalothrin
- permethrin
- plant essential oils (cedarwood, clove, garlic, lemongrass, etc.)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- pyrethrins-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- spinosad-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
Products for Commercial Use
- abamectin
- azadiractin
- beta-cyfluthrin
- bifenthrin + carbaryl
- bifenthrin-Restricted use
- boric acid-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- carbaryl
- cyfluthrin
- cypermethrin
- deltamethrin
- dinotefuran-Some neonicotinoids have been banned from use on public properties.
- esfenvalerate + prallethrin + piperonyl butoxide
- gamma-cyhalothrin
- indoxacarb
- lambda-cyhalothrin
- lambda-cyhalothrin+ thiamethoxam
- mint oil, geraniol + oil of rosemary OMRI-listed for organic use.
- spinosad + iron phosphate